Voice Disorders

WHAT IS A VOICE DISORDER?

Did you know that teachers and secretaries are two of the top ten occupations in which voice disorders are most likely to occur  (Herrington-Hall, 1988)?  A voice disorder is said to exist when the quality, pitch, and loudness differ from the voices of others of similar age, gender, cultural background, and geographic location.

What are symptoms of voice disorders?

    1. Hoarseness- “rough” or “raspy” voice
    2. Vocal Fatigue- feeling tired after prolonged talking
    3. Breathy Voice- difficulty being heard
    4. Reduced Phonational Range- usually singers unable to produce high or low notes.
    5. Aphonia- absence of voice.
    6. Pitch Breaks- periodic squeakiness.
    7. Strain/Struggle Voice- difficult to talk.
    8. Tremor- voice is wobbly or shaky.
    9. Pain- pain in vocal fold area.

What is vocal hygiene?

    1. Drink plenty of water.
    2. Eliminate throat clearing/coughing.  Substitute a “sniff-swallow” instead.
    3. Reduce nonessential talking.
    4. Reduce talking/singing in loud background noise.
    5. Eliminate (or at least reduce) alcohol intake and smoking.
    6. Restrict medications that dry out the mouth, throat, and larynx.
    7. Restrict aspirin use during loud talking periods.
    8. Increase the amount of sleep that you get.
    9. Restrict talking/vocal performance during times of throat infection.
    10. Restrict use of loud voice in windy, cold, out-of-door areas.
    11. Eliminate or reduce caffeine intake.

Retrieved from: http://www.speakingofspeech.com on 2-19-09. 

Compiled by: Elizabeth Clark, M.S., CCC-SLP from: Blood, G. (2000). Lecture notes from CMDIS 541, Voice Disorders at Pennsylvania State University.