About speech therapy for voice problems
Disorders preventing a normal voice present in a variety of ways. Everyone, once in a while, experiences a brief disorder affecting the voice. It may be something as simple as watching a sporting event, cheering and shouting excessively. Or maybe a serious cold or sore throat has significantly affected the voice. It may be painful to speak in any voice above a whisper unless speaking becomes strained. These conditions are typically temporary in nature. The easiest remedy is often to stop talking and rest the voice until it returns to a normal condition. We may often use lozenges to soothe and medicate in hopes of accelerating healing.
However, some conditions may occur which require more attention than avoiding speech and dissolving a handful of lozenges. There are two voice problems of a more serious nature. Both may require some speech therapy to fully restore the voice to health. These two disorders are Vocal Fold Nodules and Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement.
Therapies for both conditions include the simple arrest of harmful habits of smoking, excessive shouting, and exposure to extreme cold. Other helpful tips include breathing exercises with a deeper and slower rhythm, drinking more water, occasional steam inhalation, rest of voice, and vocal exercises of sequentially rising and lowering pitch while voicing a repeating, single syllable.
Therapy for vocal nodules
Vocal fold nodules present as mostly harmless growths on the surface of either or both vocal folds. They are typically the result of abusing the voice by high pitch and high volume. Or by constant shouting and screaming. They may exhibit any or all of the following symptoms: hoarseness to the point of complete loss of voice, a course or raw feeling when trying to speak, a short range of pitch, and localized pain or sharp, alternating pain between the ears. These are also typical symptoms of just losing the voice due to excessive shouting but if the symptoms endure longer than a couple of weeks, it is possible that nodules are present.
Paradoxical vocal fold movement
Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement (PVFM) is a periodic condition which interrupts normal vocal fold function with brief failure of one or both folds by closing or opening or paralysis at inappropriate times. They may be caused by acid reflux, smoking and breathing cold air in addition to much the same causes as for nodules.
If you have questions about speech therapy for voice problems or results focused speech therapy, contact your local doctor, who will arrange for you to see a speech pathologist. Contact us today!
