Voice Disorders

These disorders can reflect abnormalities in the pitch, loudness, or quality of the voice. These abnormalities may result in the voice sounding or showing:

• breathy
• strained
• rough or harsh
• voice breaks
• voice arrests
• other changes

Use of voice may cause discomfort when speaking and/or singing.

Voice disorders may respond very well to voice therapy provided by Speech-Language Therapists or, in some cases, a combined medical and Speech-Language Therapy approach may be necessary.

Normal Voice Production

In normal production of voice, the air comes from the lungs and passes through the larynx (voice box), where the sound is created. This sound gets modified as it passes through the vocal tract until it reaches the mouth, where it is articulated into speech. The actual sound comes from the larynx where the air, coming from the lungs, sets a pair of vocal folds into vibration. It is this vibration that is called "voice".

Causes

The cause of a voice disorder may be due to:

• overuse or misuse of the voice - talking for too long, too loudly, with too much effort, or consistently using a pitch level that might be too high or too low
• irritation of the tissues of the larynx caused by being too dry, being exposed to pollutants, smoke or other irritants, or being affected in some way by certain medications
• physical trauma to the larynx (e.g. through surgery or trauma) which may affect the larynx's ability to function correctly
• irregularities caused by malformations, pathologies (disease processes) or neurological conditions

Role of the Speech-Language Therapist

Speech-Language Therapists may have a number of roles in working with individuals with a voice disorder. These may include:

• ensuring individuals with voice difficulties are referred to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist to accurately diagnose the disorder
• liaising with ENT specialists in identifying the optimal treatment approach for the particular voice disorder
• carrying out treatment, either in conjunction with an ENT specialist or by themselves
• assessment of voice difficulties and associated/related factors, followed by appropriate treatment and liaison with individuals and their families
• provision of information about normal voice and the nature of the particular disorder

What you can do

There are a number of simple suggestions individuals with a voice disorder may follow. These may include:

• limiting the amount you can use your voice when voicing is difficult. Do not talk for protracted periods of time
• speak quietly when talking with others and avoid any yelling or shouting
• avoid coughing and throat clearing as much as possible. Try swallowing first to clear your throat or give one short sharp cough if absolutely necessary
• sip water frequently
• avoid smoking

If changes in voice or voice discomfort lasts for more than 7 to 10 days, see your doctor.

More Information

For more information or help with a voice disorder, you can contact a Speech-Language Therapist by getting in touch with:

• your doctor
• the Yellow Pages
• Massey University Speech-Language Therapy Clinic: (09) 414 0800 ext 41290 / 41277
• The University of Auckland Speech-Language Therapy Clinics: (09) 303 5979
• The University of Canterbury Speech and Hearing Clinic: (03) 364 2408
• The NZSTA Private Practice Register