Vocal Cord Tear Silences R&B Singer Frank Ocean

Image by Fred von Lohmann from Wikipedia

On July 25, 2013, R&B singer Frank Ocean was forced to cancel his entire Australian concert tour due to a small vocal cord tear.

After singing his opening night with a sore throat during which he reportedly sounded "noticeably off-key," he seeked medical attention and was informed of the unfortunate condition of his vocal cord. Listening to his voice on this YouTube video recorded during this fateful concert, his voice actually does not sound as bad as I would expect with a vocal cord tear. However, at time point 1:20, there was an obvious pitch break.

If a vocal cord tear was truly present, it must have been extremely small and not along the free edge because even with a small vocal cord tear located along the vibrating margin, the vocal quality would have been noticeably degraded throughout the vocal range. Why?


In order for the vocal cords to produce a clear voice, the vocal cords must come together and vibrate evenly. This vibration occurs on the vocal cord mucosa. ANYTHING that disrupts this mucosal vibration would result in a raspy voice including small bumps like a nodule or polyp, but also a vocal cord tear. Watch video of normal vocal cords in motion.

Small bumps typically cause problems in the voice only in the high range at quiet volumes because often the bump can vibrate along with the mucosa (just like a buoy on the ocean). As long as the vibration is unaffected, the voice comes out. As a bump gets bigger, a greater portion of the vocal range becomes affected.

A tear, however, depending on where it is located could affect the entire vocal range due to vibratory disruption as it moves to and around the tear (the tear acts like an anchored pillar in the ocean).

The only way to correct a tear is MANDATORY strict voice rest for several weeks. Further using the voice when injured like this may only "rip" the tear larger potentially causing a greater risk of scar formation and a permanent hoarse voice.

Strict voice rest means absolutely no talking and whispering. Such activities cause the vocal cords to come together and "bang" against the vocal cord tear preventing proper healing. I would even instruct patients to avoid even mouthing words as it causes the brain to "think" you are talking even if you are not. Essentially, the lips should always remain closed except when eating/drinking. The analogy would be if you have surgery done on the heel of your foot, you should not walk or put any weight on the heel, otherwise risk improper healing.

Here's an example picture of a vocal cord tear on both vocal cords in a patient suffering from viral laryngitis who did not quit using her voice for a prolonged period of time.

WHY would a vocal cord tear appear in the first place? Usually from excessively traumatic vocal abuse (ie, strong cough, scream, yell, etc).

Source:
Frank Ocean Suffers Tear to Vocal Cord, Scraps Australian Mini-Tour. Billboard Biz 7/26/13