Voice Disorders
A voice disorder can cause ineffective communication by decreasing a person’s ability to express personal, occupational or medical needs.
- Disorders of the voice may occur along with disease, neurological conditions or as the result of how a person uses their voice.
- The goal of voice therapy is to improve vocal quality while reducing vocal effort. Voice therapy with a speech-language pathologist can rehabilitate a hoarse voice and improve voice function in occupational and professional voice users (e.g. lecturers, singers, actors.)
Symptoms of Voice Disorders
- Breathy vocal quality.
- Difficulty breathing with throat tightness.
- Excessive throat tension or pain.
- Frequent coughing or throat clearing.
- Hoarse voice.
- Increased fatigue with talking.
- Loss of voice.
- Pitch is too high or too low.
- Rough or strained vocal quality.
- Running out of breath while speaking.
- Volume is too loud or too soft.
Services
Evaluation and Screening
Speech-language pathologists provide voice evaluations and therapy for traditional speakers and voice professionals. Prior to an evaluation, an examination of the vocal cords by an ear, nose and throat provider is preferred.
An auditory-perceptual and acoustic voice evaluation includes a thorough analysis of voice behavior and function, as well as, social and emotional screening to assess use of voice for communication. Testing can include voice tasks, analysis of quality and diagnostic therapy to assess the best tools for rehabilitation.
Treatment
Following a thorough evaluation, an appropriate treatment or voice training plan is selected for the patient’s individual needs.
Treatment may include:
- Circumlaryngeal massage to help reduce muscle tension.
- Diaphragmatic breathing.
- Gender affirming voice training.
- Resonant voice training, which improves vocal quality while reducing vocal effort.
- Respiratory retraining.
- Vocal hygiene education.
- Voice strengthening exercise programs such as the Lee Silverman Voice Training for patients with Parkinson’s disease and Phonation Resistance Training Exercises for patients with presbyphonia (aging voice.)
Populations Served
Individuals of all ages benefit from the expert assessments and recommendations of a speech-language pathologist. Individuals with the following diagnoses often find the most benefit from voice services.
- Cancers of the head and neck.
- Individuals seeking gender affirming voice training.
- Muscle tension dysphonia.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Professional and occupational voice users (e.g. lecturers, singers, actors) seeking a healthier way of using their voice to enhance vocal longevity and job performance.
- Presbyphonia (aging voice.)
- Vocal cord dysfunction / Paradoxical vocal fold motion / Exercise induced laryngeal obstruction.
- Vocal cord paresis or paralysis.
- Vocal nodules or polyps.