Voice Disorders

VOICE DISORDERS

True Voice Speech Pathology manages a range of voice disorders, including:

• Vocal fold nodules

• Vocal fold cysts or polyps

• Muscle Tension Dysphonia

• Vocal fold paralysis

• Peri-operative therapy

• Parkinson’s Disease (LSVT certification)

• Spasmodic Dysphonia

• Puberphonia

Voice changes or ‘dysphonia’ can impact greatly on one’s livelihood and, unfortunately, this impact is frequently underestimated by friends and colleagues. Professional voice users rely on good voice to both fulfil job requirements and to progress their careers. This group reaches beyond singers and actors to include teachers, barristers, auctioneers, coaches, journalists, personal trainers, customer service officers, phone operators and many more. Such occupations comprise 1/3 of the labour force.

Treatment

Speech Pathologists improve voice quality and endurance utilising simple, evidence-based vocal tract exercises as well as behavioural and lifestyle adjustments. Together these can help balance the subsystems of breathing, phonation and resonation in the presence of an injury, as well as acting to prevent further vocal injuries.

Vocal Cord Dysfunction

VOCAL CORD DYSFUNCTION

Do you experience unexplained shortness of breath, noisy breathing, wheezing or throat tightness?

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD), otherwise known as Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement (PVFM), is more often categorised in the broader class of upper airway disorders. People with VCD can experience episodic shortness of breath, noisy breathing, and sometimes experience attacks where they are suddenly unable to breathe. There may be a chronic dry cough or frequent throat clearing. Voice and swallowing problems may also be present.

VCD occurs when the vocal folds close rather than stay open when you are breathing. This usually occurs when you are breathing in, so that breathing in feels more difficult than breathing out. This is in contrast to those suffering asthma who typically have more difficulty breathing out, however vocal cord dysfunction can sometimes co-occur with asthma.

TREATMENT

Once associated conditions (if any) are managed medically, the most successful treatment for VCD is speech pathology. Speech pathologists treat VCD without drugs, by teaching exercises that help to control and retrain breathing, to keep the vocal cords open, to reduce overall throat irritation and improve relaxation. Any coinciding voice and swallowing problems can also be addressed during therapy.