Nodules usually form slowly over time, and are usually caused by excessive vocal demands, or improper speaking or singing techniques. Symptoms include breathiness, a raspy voice, decreased loudness, and vocal fatigue. Nodules can also cause irregular vocal fold vibration, resulting in hoarseness and pitch breaks.

Nodules are diagnosed by their appearance.

Treatment is usually a course of voice therapy. Infrequently, voice surgery is required if the voice therapy does not provide adequate symptom relief.

The prognosis for nodules is excellent. In fact, 99% of the time, they will go away within two months with conservative management such as decreasing trauma or undergoing voice therapy.