Voice Therapy for Voice Disorders and Vocal Injuries
Is your voice hoarse, tired, strained, or painful to use? Our licensed speech-language pathologists treat voice disorders online with a personalized plan built on easy, resonant voice techniques and healthy vocal hygiene. We also help people who rely on their voice for work prevent injuries before they start.
Example Voice Conditions We Treat
Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD)
When the muscles in and around the vocal cords work too hard, the voice can sound strained, rough, or weak, and speaking may feel effortful or painful. Voice therapy is a primary treatment, retraining how you produce voice so it takes less effort.
Vocal Nodules and Polyps
These benign growths on the vocal folds often come from heavy or strained voice use. Therapy reduces the strain behind them and can help them shrink or prevent them from returning, often alongside care from an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist (aka ENT or otolaryngologist).
Vocal Fatigue and Hoarseness
A voice that gives out by the end of the day, sounds raspy, or loses range usually has a cause therapy can address, from modifying voicing technique to increasing hydration to reflux mitigation.
Recovery After Illness or Surgery
Throat surgery, a respiratory infection, or other trauma often require a period of vocal rest as the tissues heal; this paucity in voicing can leave the voice weaker and uncomfortable to use. Therapy helps rebuild strength, control, and stamina.
Who Voice Therapy Helps
Voice Professionals
Teachers, singers, livestreamers, actors, podcasters, clergy, call-center staff, customer service workers: anyone who relies on their voice to meet the demands of their job.
Voice Enthusiasts
Karaoke regulars, protestors and organizers, and all-around Chatty Cathy's who love to use their voice to communicate.
Voice Injuries & Related Conditions
Those whose voices have been impacted by smoke exposure, acid reflux, trauma to the throat, disorders that impact energy or muscle coordination such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, chronic fatigue or chronic pain.
Signs You May Need Voice Therapy
If any of these sound familiar and have lasted more than two weeks, a consultation can help you understand what's going on and determine next steps.
Common Factors in Developing a Voice Disorder
-Extended daily use of one's voice due to habit or job requirements
-Extended or harsh usage of one's voice over a short period of time
-Suboptimal vocal hygiene.
-Recent trauma to the throat, surgery, an upper respiratory infection or similar illness that has decreased one's vocal ability beyond typical recovery.
-A history of smoke inhalation
Common Symptoms of a Voice Disorder
-A sudden change in vocal quality, such as unusual pitch, breath support, or low stamina when speaking
-A raspy, harsh or hoarse voice quality
-Tension or pain in the throat, nose or mouth while speaking
-Repetitive throat clearing
-Reduced singing range
How Voice Therapy at Prismatic Works
We start with a full case history and acoustic measurements of your voice to establish a baseline and help inform the creation of measurable long- and short-term goals. When needed, we coordinate with an otolaryngologist (ENT) to confirm a diagnosis. Then we build a plan of 45-minute sessions, usually once or twice a week, with daily practice at home. We review the plan together to explain our findings, answer questions you may have, and make sure we are in agreement with the developed goals and intended trajectory.
When to See an ENT Before Voice Therapy
While our eyes and ears can tell us a lot about your voice condition, there are times where we need to get a more in-depth assessment to ensure we don't cause more harm than help by attempting to treat a condition without all the facts. If you’ve been hoarse for more than a few weeks, have pain, trouble swallowing or breathing, or cough up blood, see an in-person ear, nose, and throat doctor (aka ENT, or otolaryngologist). We’re glad to coordinate with your ENT and can help you understand what to ask.
Pricing Table
During a consultation, you will meet with a Prismatic Speech Services speech-language pathologist, and discuss what we can do for you. Discussion may include the basics of your current vocal condition and voice history, vocal hygiene habits, and what Prismatic Speech Services has to offer you.
A voice assessment is a thorough examination of all factors that make up your voice. We discuss your medical history, social/occupational history, and take acoustic measurements of your voice to test its current ability. Assessment may include referral to an otolaryngologist before being seen at Prismatic Speech Services, depending on individual's responses in the intake paperwork.
Standard treatment sessions will comprise of 45 minute sessions, once or twice a week depending on the client's plan of care. Treatment will be comprised of skilled intervention techniques selected to achieve your therapy goals. Said techniques may be adapted or modified depending on the individual needs of the client.
Get Help for Your Voice
Most voice problems improve with the right guidance. Book a free consultation to talk through your symptoms with a licensed SLP.