Voice Clinic

Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute's Voice Clinic helps people with voice problems of all kinds, including difficulty communicating on the job, at home and in the community.

Many people (for example, teachers, sales people, singers, receptionists, medical personnel, politicians, clergy and restaurant workers) rely on their voices in their jobs. But few people really know how to take care of this valuable asset.

When to seek medical advice

Seek a medical evaluation if:

• hoarseness lasts longer than two weeks
• you experience complete loss or severe change in your voice which lasts longer than a few days
• hoarseness is associated with pain from a cold or flu, coughing up blood, difficulty swallowing, a lump in the neck, or trauma or surgery to the neck area.

If you need additional evaluation and treatment for your voice, your medical provider may refer you to an otolaryngologist, a doctor whose specialty is ear, nose and throat care.

An otolaryngologist will diagnose whether you are having problems involving:

• chronic or recurring hoarseness ?
• vocal nodules
• vocal polyps
• cancer of the larynx ?
• weak or paralyzed vocal folds
• spasmodic dysphonia
• vocal tremor
• arthritis within the larynx
• reflux laryngitis ?
• contact ulcers
• granuloma
• hyperfunctional (or tense) voice use
• vocal fatigue.

Voice problems are best managed by a team of professionals who know how the voice functions. These professionals may include otolaryngologists, speech-language pathologists, teachers of singing and psychologists.

Speech-language pathologists provide evaluation and treatment when:

• you have questions about your voice and how to use it in a healthy way
• you want to know how to protect your voice and prevent vocal problems
• your medical provider refers you for voice evaluation and treatment.

Voice problems

Vocal changes can be caused by misuse, stress, environmental irritants and medically related health problems. The most common problems include:

• laryngitis ?
• tightness
• loss of pitch range
• cancer of the larynx ?
• laryngeal diseases
• hoarseness ?
• vocal fatigue
• inability to project the voice.

Voice evaluation

Areas assessed include:

• patterns of voice usage in work and home environments
• breath flow for proper voice production
• pitch, loudness and vocal quality
• inflection
• tension in the support structures of the larynx.

Voice rehabilitation

Treatment goals may include, but are not limited to:

• learning how to take care of your voice optimally
• instruction in proper voice production techniques
• elimination of behaviors that contribute to vocal fold tissue change.

Hoarseness

Hoarseness is having difficulty producing sound when trying to speak, or a change in the pitch or quality of the voice. The voice may sound weak, very breathy, scratchy, or husky.

Learn more about hoarseness in our health encyclopedia.

Ear, nose and throat (ENT, otolaryngology)

Otolaryngologists or head and neck surgeons are doctors who treat conditions affecting the ears, face, jaw, nose, sinuses and throat.

Learn more about and find ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists.

Cancer of the throat or larynx

Cancer of the throat is cancer of the vocal cords, voice box (larynx), or other areas of the throat.

Learn more about throat or larynx cancer in our health encyclopedia.

Laryngitis

Laryngitis is swelling and irritation (inflammation) of the voice box (larynx) that is usually associated with hoarseness or loss of voice.

Learn more about laryngitis in our health encyclopedia.

Speech-language pathologists

Speech-language pathologists help people of all ages with speech, language and hearing problems.

Find a speech-language pathologist.

Psychologists

Psychologists help individuals work through emotional difficulties through talk therapy. They also evaluate mental health through special assessments.

Learn more about psychology and find a psychologist.