VOICE PROBLEMS (DYSPHONIA)

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Speech therapy can offer many treatments for dysphonia, which is the medical term for voice disorders.

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• change in voice quality i.e. hoarse, breathy or strained.

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• voicing is effortful and/or causes discomfort.

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• total loss of voice - aphonia

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• voice quality does not match gender.

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What causes dysphonia?

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-trauma to the voice box i.e. post surgery.

​-misuse of the voice, which causes

structural changes i.e. vocal cord haemorrhage, cysts/polyps, vocal fold nodules.

​-incorrect voicing techniques with

excess tension in the muscles of the voice box.

​-nerve damage i.e. vocal fold paralysis.

​-inflammation or infection of the voice box due to poor vocal hygiene.

​-psychological reasons i.e. stress or anxiety.

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