Voice Disorders | Bodylink Speech Therapy

Voice Disorders

A voice disorder is any deviation in pitch, intensity, resonance or quality that renders a person's voice "abnormal" to the listener. It may be secondary to a number of underlying causes including overuse, neurologic disorders, trauma, surgery, cancer, viral and bacterial conditions and psychological difficulties.

Common causes of voice disorders include vocal fold nodules, vocal fold polyps, vocal fold cysts, muscle tension dysphonia, vocal fold paralysis, reflux laryngitis, Reinke’s edema, spasmodic dysphonia, paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM), vocal fold bowing and vocal fold atrophy.

Signs and Symptoms of a Voice Disorder May Include

Hoarseness
Breathiness
Volume that is too loud or too soft
Pitch that is too high or low for age
Changes in pitch
Voice breaks
Loss of voice
Vocal fatigue when speaking
Running out of breath at the ends of sentences
Persistent throat clearing or coughing
Sore throat
Acid taste in the mouth
Difficulty swallowing
Tension in the neck and jaw

Treatment for Voice Disorders

Voice disorder treatment may include medication, surgery, voice therapy or a combination of these. The goal of voice therapy is to learn new/better patterns of voice production and to eliminate poor vocal habits. Components of a voice therapy program often include:

Vocal hygiene (ensuring proper hydration, reducing or eliminating caffeine, managing reflux)
Identifying and eliminating vocal misuse
Learning appropriate breathing patterns
Relaxation of the head and neck muscles
Vocal relaxation
Vocal exercises to balance and strengthen the vocal folds

Programs including Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy (LMRVT) and Casper-Stone Confidential Flow Therapy (CSCFT) are 2 voice therapy programs that are geared towards both preventing and reversing vocal fold injury. The ultimate goal of voice therapy is to have the client achieve his or her best voice following injury or surgery.

Client Testimonial

I came to Monica with a diagnosis of muscle tension dysphonia and vocal cord paresis. The condition was greatly affecting my ability to speak on a day-to-day basis. In a matter of a few short months Monica changed my life. She guided me through speech therapy providing a level of attention and insight that was truly remarkable. She tailored my program exactly to fit my needs and condition, listening carefully each week to how I was progressing taking into account my successes and areas of difficulty. I also found Monica’s ability to use craniosacral therapy as a complement to traditional speech therapy especially unique and helpful. She is a truly holistic therapist–she has great medical knowledge about speech disorders and their treatment and is equally sensitive in her understanding of what each client needs to achieve their best voice. I had tried speech therapy with a few other therapists prior to this for my condition with little to no results. A few months with Monica and my condition has dramatically improved. It no longer affects my day-to-day life. I highly recommend Monica as a speech therapist and craniosacral therapist. She is the best!

--Pamela D., New York, NY