Disability

Vocal Fold Paralysis is a disability. It can limit the kind of work you are capable of doing, and the kinds of hobbies and recreational activities you choose. Even if you are fortunate enough to be able to continue in your current employment, you may suffer from fatigue simply from the extra effort required for speaking or breathing. Your bosses, coworkers and clients may not be able to fully understand your limitations.

If you are in a voice-intensive profession (such as law, teaching, sales, or singing) your vocal challenges will be more obvious. But most people, in most professions, depend on their voices at some time during the work day. No matter what you do for a living, VFP may prevent you from advancing, or even continuing, in your career.

If you lose your job, or are not considered for a job, because of your vocal limitations, you may be able to take legal action. Federal law protects employment for persons with medical and physical issues.

Read about your rights and options under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Obtaining Benefits

The application process for state or federal disability benefits can be notoriously challenging.

I have never applied. So far, I’ve been extremely lucky in that I can continue to work, and have access to excellent therapy. I have friends and one close family member, however, who have tackled the system. One dear friend, a wheelchair user, requires near-constant assistance due to symptoms from MS. It took his wife three years to obtain his benefits. My late sister-in-law suffered from chronic pain after a horrific car accident. Blinding migraines and crippling back spasms prevented her from working. It also took her three years (with the help of a lawyer) to obtain her benefits, which she enjoyed for only a few months before dying.

A quick Google search will reveal thousands of websites for law firms specializing in obtaining disability benefits for injured or ill clients. To view an example of a well-written, informative site, click here . Remember that this site is for a commercial enterprise trying to sell you their services. This link is in no way an endorsement of, or recommendation for, this company.

Deciding whether or not to apply for benefits is a personal choice. Everybody’s situation is different. I hope visitors to this page will share their experiences and any tips they might have in the “comments” section linked below.

Lawsuits

It is extremely difficult to successfully sue for malpractice when vocal fold paralysis occurs during neck or heart surgery or during certain exploratory procedures (such as endoscopy). That’s because it’s a known and accepted risk. It’s listed in the fine print on the documents you signed at the hospital, and if your surgeon was doing his or her job, he or she told you about the possibility of laryngeal damage prior to the procedure. Sometimes, it simply happens, even under good circumstances with experienced surgeons. The recurrent laryngeal nerve can be stretched or bruised, or the fine network of blood vessels surrounding it can be damaged even by a careful surgeon. No doctor walks into the OR thinking, “Oh boy, here’s my chance to really mess up someone’s life!” The surgeon’s reputation is at stake, and he or she has a strong incentive to do a good job.

However, as thousands of malpractice lawyers will tell you, there are horrible exceptions. A surgeon may cut right through the laryngeal nerve. Sometimes this is necessary, but if so, the resulting paralysis should be discussed with the patient before surgery. Or an avoidable mistake may have occurred - the wrong lobe of the thyroid removed, equipment used incorrectly, careless intubation. If you think something happened in your case that shouldn’t have, you may want to seek legal council.

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