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Behavioral
Voice Therapy consists of two main parts, Vocal hygiene and exercises,
to
change the biomechanics of voice production. Vocal hygiene is similar to dental
hygiene, a daily program to keep the voice functioning at its highest level. Maintaining
good nutrition and
hydration is a key to vocal hygiene. Avoiding vocal abuse
such as shouting, smoking, excessive alcohol intake and noxious chemicals are
all part of vocal hygiene.
Voice therapy is a behavioral program to adjust
the biomechanical forces that produce the sound of the voice. Exercises include
breathing techniques, vocalizing exercises, proper placement of the vocal structures
and adjustment of force or effort at the oset of the voice. Since hoarseness
may evolve from various diagnoses, the type of therapy to use is determined by
the diagnosis.
Hoarseness may occur due to a number of underlying causes:
Neoplastic Neurologic:
Vocal fold polyp Vocal fold paralysis (unilateral)
Vocal fold nodules Spasmodic dysphonia
Vocal fold granulomas Neuromuscular
disorders such as
Parkinson's Disease
Vocal fold papilloma Essential tremor
Reinke's Edema
LAryngeal cancer Stroke (Cerebral vascular accident
Inflamatory
Gastroesophageal reflux
Laryngopharyngeal reflux
Post viral vagal neuropathy
Fungal laryngitis
Allergic laryngitis
Miscellalneous
Voice misues
Muscle tension dysphonia
Vocal
fold atrophy
Vocal fold scar/sulcus vacalis
Pharmcological side effects
Adapted from: Rosen, C.A. , Anderson, D. and Murry, T. :
Evaluating
Hoarseness: Keeping Your Voice Healthy
American Family Physician Vol 57,
11, 2775-2782, 1998 | | |
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Behavioral
Voice Therapy
