Thoughts on the Voice

As with most of the human body the mechanism that creates our voice is an amazing instrument. It is responsible for the tenor perfection of Pavarotti and it gave Seth McFarlane of Family Guy a career. It is one of the things that makes each person unique.

As a speech pathologist, I got to learn all about the hyoid bone, larynx, and vocal chords-collectively called the voice box. The voice box protects our trachea but also has two chords that vibrate and stretch, this creates the different pitches we hear. With vocal chords, size matters, which is why our voices usually match our neck size or body stature. Boys going through puberty have the most drastic voice changes as their larynx grows, creating an adam's apple, and a lower pitch voice. Like the rest of our body, it's important to keep our voices healthy. Inflammation of the vocal chords can lead to vocal nodules which can have long lasting effects.

Some red flags to look out for:

1. Babies and children should not have hoarse voices. Babies cry and children scream, but it should not cause hoarseness or pain.

2. Many people talk most of the day- in presentations, at meetings, to groups, with patients/clients (like me!). After a long day, your voice should not be hoarse or in pain.

3. Chronic allergies or sinus issues can cause excess post nasal drip and mucus production. This can irritate the vocal cords and inflame them, which can effect your voice.

4. Gastrointestinal issues and reflux can damage the vocal chords. Night reflux can often go undiagnosed but can result in infalmmation and the period loss of voice.

5. Breath support is the fuel for your voice, ask any singer. If you speak quickly, don't stop for air, and end your meassage on residual air, you are abusing your voice. I often treat kids that are talking fast, they are loud, and the veins in there neck are popping out! They do not have enough breath support for speech.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the above symptoms, contact your doctor and request an evaluation from an E.N.T.

I treat children and teens with voice disorders and work with pediatricians and E.N.T.'s to help discover root causes and establish the best treatment plan.