What is vocal fold paresis? "Paresis" means partial paralysis. Vocal fold paresis refers to a vocal fold with motion impaired (but not absent – that condition is called vocal fold paralysis) because the nerve in the muscles of the vocal fold is damaged. Most commonly, this happens as a result of a routine viral infection like a cold, although any surgery that can cause vocal fold paralysis ...
Possible causes of vocal cord paralysis include nerve damage during surgery, viral infections and certain cancers. Treatment for vocal cord paralysis usually involves surgery, and sometimes voice therapy.