How is a voice disorder characterized?

A voice disorder is characterized by an abnormal vocal quality, which can manifest in the pitch, loudness, or other characteristics of the voice. This includes issues such as hoarseness, breathiness, or an inability to reach certain pitches or sustain a consistent volume. Understanding voice disorders focuses on how the voice sounds and is produced, reflecting the speaker's ability to use their voice effectively in communication. Other options, while they relate to aspects of communication, do not specifically address the vocal quality itself. For instance, correct speech production with appropriate articulation pertains more to clarity and pronunciation rather than the characteristics of voice quality. Similarly, issues with the flow and rhythm of speech focus on fluency, and excessive use of complex sentences relates to language development rather than voice.