Treatment

The sound of our voice is unique, it’s part of what makes us who we are. Voice problems, sometimes called “dysphonia” can change the quality of our voice or make it effortful to speak. The change can be sudden or develop gradually. There are different reasons why this might happen:

Structural changes in the larynx (voice-box), such as a vocal fold palsy, vocal nodules or having treatment for head and neck cancer.

Muscular incoordination, sometimes called “muscle tension dysphonia”, when the larynx (voice-box) isn’t working efficiently.

You will need to have a consultation with an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Consultant to have voice therapy for a voice disorder. You will have a nasendoscopy and be given a diagnosis. Please discuss this with me during your initial consultation.

People often develop a voice problem for more than one reason. Common causes are following an illness; using your voice at work; or diet, lifestyle and emotional factors.

Voice therapy includes:

A full assessment of your voice

Explanation of how we produce our voice and why your voice has changed

Practical advice on how to care for your voice

Tailored exercises to improve your voice
Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition. The main symptoms are tremor (shaking), slowness of movement and stiffness of movement. Because Parkinson’s affects the way muscles move it can affect the muscles of the larynx (voice-box). This means people often notice changes in the sound of their voice, the clarity of their speech and their swallowing. It can also change facial expression. Common changes that people, or their loved ones, notice is that they become quieter, speech is more monotone or fades away. They may have a stammer or stutter when they didn’t have one before. It can be hard to hear what the individual is saying which can have a real effect on conversation and relationships.

The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) is an evidence-based treatment for people with Parkinson’s. It is an intensive program of 16 sessions; four times a week over four weeks. There is some evidence that it can also work with other neuromuscular conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis.

Some people with Parkinson’s will want to consider different options to improve their voice other than the full programme of the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT). Please take the opportunity to discuss this with me during a free initial consultation.

You may need to have a consultation with an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Consultant to have voice therapy for a voice problem following a diagnosis of Parkinsons. Please discuss this with me during your initial consultation.
Covid-19 enters the body through the nose and throat. It commonly causes a sore throat, runny nose, and cold/flu symptoms. You may have experienced the regular urge to cough when you were ill. Throat inflammation may continue even after recovery, and many people say their throat and upper airways remain sensitive. Repeated coughing can irritate your vocal folds and make them swollen. Swollen vocal folds are stiff and cannot move as easily. The voice becomes deeper and huskier, or your voice can become a whisper. It feels like hard work to talk when your vocal folds are swollen. The added effort to speak can lead to extra tension in the throat and make talking even harder.

Other common symptoms when recovering from Covid, such as increased breathlessness, fatigue, heartburn/indigestion, and emotional health also affect the voice and throat.

Voice therapy includes:

A full assessment of your voice

Explanation of how we produce our voice and why your voice has changed

Practical advice on how to care for your voice

Tailored exercises to improve your voice

You may need to have a consultation with an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Consultant to have voice therapy for a voice problem following Covid-19. Please discuss this with me during your initial consultation.
Sometimes the delicate lining inside the throat can become very sensitive. Symptoms can include an on-going irritable cough or the sensation of the throat closing over. Some people have the sensation of a lump in the throat sometimes called “globus”. These symptoms are unpleasant and can be constant or they can come and go. People often develop throat discomfort for more than one reason. Common causes are following an illness, diet, lifestyle and emotional factors or a pattern that develops over time.

Voice therapy includes:

A full assessment and history of the throat discomfort

Practical advice on how to care for your throat

Tailored exercises to ease the discomfort

You will need to have a consultation with an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Consultant to have voice therapy for throat discomfort. You will have a nasendoscopy and be given a diagnosis. If you have a persistent cough you will also need to discuss this with your GP and have the appropriate assessment to check there is no medical reason for your cough.

Please discuss this with me during your initial consultation.
Many professions rely on the voice as a “tool of the trade”. These include teachers, performers, fitness instructors and those who work in a legal or religious capacity. Having to use the voice for prolonged periods, projecting to large groups and sometimes over considerable background noise and in stressful situations increases the risk of developing a voice problem.

I offer bespoke packages to your professional group which can be incorporated into well-being or away-day programmes. These can be delivered in-person depending on your location or online using a zoom or Skype link.

The program will include:

How we produce our voice and why it’s important in your professional role

How to spot difficulties and when to get help

Advice on how to care for voice

Practical exercises to improve the voice