Voice therapy

Voice therapy (also known as voice training) is the assessment and treatment of voice disorders. It involves therapeutic exercises and behavioral techniques designed to improve the voice's quality, pitch, volume, and endurance. Voice therapy is often recommended for individuals who have experienced voice problems due to misuse or overuse of the voice, surgery affecting the vocal cords, or conditions such as vocal fold nodules, vocal fold paralysis, or dysphonia. The goal of voice therapy is to rehabilitate the patient's voice to a level where it is functional for daily communication, professional use, or performance.

Indications

Voice therapy is indicated for a variety of conditions, including but not limited to:

• Vocal fold nodules and polyps
• Vocal fold paralysis or paresis
• Dysphonia, including muscle tension dysphonia
• Laryngitis, both acute and chronic
• Voice changes associated with aging, known as presbyphonia
• Voice disorders related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Voice impact from neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis

Assessment

Before starting voice therapy, a thorough assessment is usually conducted by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) specializing in voice disorders. This assessment may include:

• Patient history
• Visual examination of the vocal folds, often using laryngoscopy or stroboscopy
• Voice quality analysis using acoustic measurements
• Aerodynamic measurements, assessing airflow and pressure during phonation
• Patient-reported outcome measures

Techniques

Voice therapy techniques vary depending on the individual's specific needs but may include:

• Vocal hygiene education, which involves teaching the patient how to care for their voice (e.g., staying hydrated, avoiding shouting)
• Breath support and control exercises
• Phonation exercises, focusing on efficient vocal fold vibration
• Resonance training
• Pitch and loudness adjustments
• Relaxation techniques to reduce muscle tension
• Speech therapy exercises to modify speaking behaviors that contribute to voice strain

Outcomes

The effectiveness of voice therapy can depend on several factors, including the type and severity of the voice disorder, the patient's adherence to the therapy program, and the presence of any underlying medical conditions. Many patients experience significant improvements in voice quality, vocal endurance, and overall vocal function following voice therapy.

See Also

• Speech therapy
• Laryngology
• Otolaryngology