Bits Blog: Larry Page Says Vocal Cord Paralysis Causes His Voice Problems

Emmanuel Dunand/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Both of Larry Page’s vocal cords were paralyzed after virus infections.

5:28 p.m. | Updated to clarify that one of Mr. Page’s vocal cords has limited movement but is not paralyzed.

Larry Page, Google’s chief executive, said Tuesday that he has a rare and chronic health problem that forces him to speak hoarsely and constricts his breathing.

The announcement is the first time that Mr. Page has explained his voice troubles. It comes nearly a year after Google said that he would avoid public speaking for a time because he had lost his voice. Since then, he has spoken publicly, but with a weak and raspy voice.

One of Mr. Page’s vocal cords was paralyzed after a viral infection 14 years ago, and the second was left with limited movement after a cold last summer. Voice specialists said that it was extremely rare for a patient to experience paralysis or limited movement in both vocal cords, and that as of now, it cannot be reversed.

“Thankfully, after some initial recovery I’m fully able to do all I need to at home and at work, though my voice is softer than before,” Mr. Page wrote in a post on Google Plus.

“And Sergey says I’m probably a better C.E.O. because I choose my words more carefully,” he added, referring to Sergey Brin, who founded Google with Mr. Page.

The condition can become life-threatening, doctors say, when it inhibits breathing. Mr. Page addressed that in his post.

“Vocal cord nerve issues can also affect your breathing, so my ability to exercise at peak aerobic capacity is somewhat reduced,” he wrote. “That said, my friends still think I have way more stamina than them when we go kitesurfing!”

Mr. Page also said that in 2003, he had been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an inflammatory thyroid condition that he said caused him no problems. He said it was unclear whether it was related to his vocal cord paralysis.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder that is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States, particularly among middle-age women, and can cause fatigue, hoarseness, pain and stiffness, according to the Mayo Clinic. It is treated with hormone replacement drugs, though doctors often delay treatment if the thyroid is functioning normally.

Mr. Page’s health had raised concerns among Google shareholders, particularly after the death of Steve Jobs, Apple’s former chief executive, and questions about an executive’s responsibility to reveal health problems. Google had refused to give any details on Mr. Page’s condition, until now.

The condition is not life-threatening and doctors have ruled out cancer, according to a person briefed on Mr. Page’s health who was not authorized to speak publicly. He speaks regularly in meetings and has continued to run daily operations at Google, the person said.

Mr. Page also said Tuesday that he had given a personal grant to the Voice Health Institute, a group founded in 2003, for a research program on improving vocal cord nerve function. The research will be led by Dr. Steven Zeitels, a laryngeal surgeon at the Massachusetts General Hospital Voice Center, one of several doctors who treated Mr. Page.

“The Pages’ generosity will enable us to help steward a new era of pioneering surgical, medical and engineering innovations that will provide new solutions for the millions of individuals suffering from voice loss and breathing problems in the upper airway,” said a statement from John L. Ward, president of the Voice Health Institute. Well-known singers like Julie Andrews, Steven Tyler and Lionel Richie are on the institute’s board.

To begin, the group has asked people with a similar condition to Mr. Page’s to complete a survey about their symptoms.

A previous version of this post incorrectly stated that both of Mr. Page’s vocal cords were paralyzed. One is paralyzed, but the other has limited movement.

Larry Johnson Police Report — ‘I’ll Rip Your F**king Vocal Cords Out’

Larry Johnson Police Report
'I'll Rip Your F**king Vocal Cords Out'

Former NFL superstar Larry Johnson threatened a hotel security guard who responded to a domestic violence incident -- telling the guy, "I'll rip your f*cking vocal cords out" ... this according to the police report obtained by TMZ.

According to the report, the alleged victim identifies herself as Johnson's ex-girlfriend -- and told police LJ beat the crap out of her and strangled her until she blacked out early Friday morning inside of a room at the Bellagio Hotel.

The GF told police ... while Johnson was strangling her, she told him, "If you are going to kill me squeeze harder and just do it."

The GF says she then blacked out and lost consciousness.

As for why he attacked her in the first place, the woman told police she and Johnson had been partying and drinking together when they went up to his room to "catch up." But the GF claims LJ became enraged when they started talking about his daughter. She claims LJ snapped and began to "beat her and throw her around the room" and eventually choked her out.

According to the report, the GF told police she regained consciousness in a hotel hallway while dressed only in her underwear and a see-through blouse. The GF says she banged on doors until someone called for help.

Cops say the GF claims Johnson had attacked her multiple times in the past ... including a recent incident at the Wynn Hotel in Vegas.

According to the report, security quickly made contact with Johnson and brought him to the security office.

One of the security guards told police ... while he was in the office, Johnson bragged about being released from charges "last time" ... and then told one of the guards that he was going to "rip your f*cking vocal cords out."

According to the report, officers say the GF had multiple marks on her face and neck ... and Johnson had a small cut on his cheek and one on his lip.

LJ was eventually arrested for battery with strangulation. He is still in custody and is scheduled to be released at 5pm.