Glossary of Communication Disorder Terms

Velocardiofacial syndrome: inherited disorder characterized by cleft palate (opening in the roof of the mouth), heart defects, characteristic facial appearance, minor learning problems, and speech and feeding problems.
Vertigo: illusion of movement; a sensation as if the external world were revolving around an individual (objective vertigo) or as if the individual were revolving in space (subjective vertigo).
Vestibular Neuronitis: infection at the vestibular nerve.
Vestibular system: system in the body that is responsible for maintaining balance, posture, and the body's orientation in space. This system also regulates locomotion and other movements and keeps objects in visual focus as the body moves.
Vestibule: bony cavity of the inner ear.
Vibrotactile aids: mechanical instruments that help individuals who are deaf to detect and interpret sound through the sense of touch.
Vocal cord paralysis: inability of one or both vocal folds (vocal cords) to move because of damage to the brain or nerves.
Vocal cords (Vocal folds): muscularized folds of mucous membrane that extend from the larynx (voice box) wall. The folds are enclosed in elastic vocal ligament and muscle that control the tension and rate of vibration of the cords as air passes through them.
Vocal folds: see Vocal cords.
Vocal tremor: trembling or shaking of one or more of the muscles of the larynx, resulting in an unsteady-sounding voice.
Voice: sound produced by air passing out through the larynx and upper respiratory tract.
Voice disorders: group of problems involving abnormal pitch, loudness, or quality of the sound produced by the larynx (voice box).