Voice Therapy
A voice problem may be a change in pitch, loudness or vocal quality which draws attention to itself rather than to what is being said. A voice problem may include pain, discomfort of fatigue. Voice therapy involves vocal and physical exercises combined with behavioral changes. Hoag speech language pathologists assess and treat a variety of voice disorders upon physician referral. Because the symptoms are so varied the treatment and goals for your voice are tailored to your personal needs.
Some common signs of a voice disorder include:
- Hoarseness
- Loss of voice, voice breaks
- Changes in pitch
- Shortness of breath while speaking or singing
- Difficulty maintain/initiating soft voice
- Difficulty maintain/initiating loud voice
- Sore or scratchy throat
- Vocal fatigue when talking
- Neck and/or jaw muscle tension
- Loss of singing range
- Constant throat-clearing or coughing
- Dry throat or mouth
- Tickling or choking sensation
- Difficulty swallowing
- Lump in throat
- Frequent bad breath
- Excess mucous or phlegm
- Acidic taste in mouth
Assessment and treatment may involve:
- Perceptual clinical assessment of the vocal mechanism
- Identify factors contributing to voice problems
- Education on environmental irritants, vocal use, adequate hydration, avoidance of phonotraumatic behaviors and control of health issues – reflux, allergies and asthma
- Establishing a phonation pattern that does not cause damage – addresses pitch, loudness, intonation, phonation, breathing and resonance
- Vocal function exercises to achieve optimal stamina, strength and coordination of breath support, phonation and resonance.
- Acoustic and objective analysis
- Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT – Loud). This program specifically addresses patients with Parkinson Disease. This program retrains self-perception of appropriate loudness for improved intelligibility. This is an intensive 4 week, 16 session program.