Which term describes difficulty speaking?

• A. Dysphagia
• B. Aphasia
• C. Dysphonia
• D. Dysarthria

Answer: (C)

Difficulty speaking relates to how the voice is produced and sounds. Dysphonia is the term for an abnormal voice quality, pitch, or volume, meaning the voice may be hoarse, weak, breathy, or strained. This points to issues with the vocal cords or larynx that affect vibration and sound production. It’s different from dysphagia, which is trouble swallowing; aphasia, which is impaired language processing or expression due to brain injury; and dysarthria, which is a motor speech disorder causing slurred or poorly articulated speech. In EMS, recognizing dysphonia helps you assess airway and vocal cord function and can indicate the need for airway evaluation or treatment for underlying laryngeal problems.