What is voice?
Voice is the sound produced by the larynx (LAR-inks), commonly called the voice box.

Where is the larynx (voice box) located?
The larynx is located in the neck.  The "Adam's apple," seen most prominently on men, forms the front of the larynx.  The vocal folds (or vocal cords) extend back from the Adam's apple.

How is voice produced?
Air passes from the lungs through the larynx when you exhale.  Generally there is no sound made by this simple act of breathing.  By closing the vocal folds like a valve, the air passes gently between them, vibrating the folds and producing voice.

What is a "normal voice"?
A normal voice is judged according to whether the pitch, loudness, and quality are adequate for communication and suit a particular person.  A person may use a pitch which is too high or too deep, too loud or too soft, too hoarse, breathy, or nasal.  Sometimes a voice may seem inappropriate for an individual, such as a high pitched voice in an adult male.

What is a "problem" voice?
Voice is a problem when the pitch, loudness, or quality calls attention to itself rather than to what the speaker is saying.  It is also a problem if the speaker experiences pain or discomfort when speaking or singing.

What causes a voice problem?
There are a variety of causes of voice problems.  Persons can become hoarse temporarily by cheering at a baseball game, or an individual can sustain an injury that causes a paralysis of a vocal fold.  Misuse of the voice, such as talking or telling too loudly or using a pitch level that is too high or too low, can result in a voice problem.  So can an improper breathing pattern.  Abuse of the vocal folds through excessive smoking can be damaging to the voice.  Other voice disorders occur without apparent cause and are thought to be neurological in origin.  More info: Things that Hurt Your Voice

What are some of the more common conditions related to voice problems?
Swelling of the folds after voice misuse is known as an edema.  Small growths that result from misusing the voice are known as vocal nodules, nodes, or polyps.

Can voice problems relating to misuse result in cancer?
Although smoking has been identified as a cause of cancer of the larynx, faulty use of the voice is more likely to cause nodules, nodes and polyps, or contact ulcers.

What is an early sign of a voice problem requiring professional help?
If hoarseness, voice change, or discomfort that lasts more than ten days in the absence of an allergy or cold, an examination by a medical doctor is recommended.  

Source:  American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA)