Voice Information Center

Power: Exhaled air from the lungs

Source: Vibration of vocal folds to make sound

Filter: Quality created by the sound resonating in the spaces of the throat, nose and mouth

Note: Articulation is the shaping of sound into speech through movement of the tongue, lips, jaw and teeth.

•The vocal folds are bands of muscle located just above the trachea, behind the Adam’s apple

•The vocal folds open into a wide V when you breathe and come together to vibrate when you speak or sing

•The vocal folds are covered in delicate tissue, which can easily be damaged

•There are other muscles in the larynx, which open and close the folds, stretch and shorten them, and help perform other anatomical duties such as protecting the airway when you swallow.

•When you voice the vocal folds should gently vibrate against each other in a symmetrical even pattern and the muscles surrounding them should stay relaxed.

•For people with voice problems there is generally too much effort when voicing and the vocal folds may “slam” against each other and the other laryngeal muscles squeeze to try to force the voice out.

Common Questions

• What is a voice disorder?

When the delicate balance of voicing system is disrupted by injury or temporary damage to the vocal folds, the voice becomes unstable and the system inefficient for everyday use, such as speaking in conversation, presentations at work or teaching. In order to compensate for this inefficiency, muscles not typically involved in voicing are entrained and used to push the voice out. This typically results in excess muscle tension, which is often accompanied by symptoms like hoarseness, raspy, rough voice quality, vocal fatigue, shortness of breath when speaking and even pain.

• What are vocal fold lesions?

There are many types of vocal fold lesions with various causes ranging from excessive talking and yelling to reflux and smoking. Your ENT will make an accurate diagnosis and discuss possible treatment options with you. The two most common lesions we help treat in voice therapy are nodules and polyps. Nodules are small, benign lesions which develop at the mid-point of the vocal fold, usually bilaterally. They are the result of repeated trauma to the vocal fold tissues including effortful or loud talking and excessive throat clearing. Polyps are also benign and can vary is size, shape and location on the vocal folds. They are fluid or blood filled lesions which are the result of heavy, inefficient voice use, but may also result from a one time traumatic events such as screaming or heavy coughing.

• What is Voice therapy?

The therapy process is designed to help patients with voice disorders rehabilitate their voices through neuromuscular re-training of the voicing mechanism. In addition, voice therapy provides guidance in appropriate hygiene and care of the voice. Therapy may be provided as the only source of treatment or may be provided in conjunction with medical management, such as surgery or medications. A typical course of voice therapy includes 6-8, 45 minute sessions conducted once a week. You should choose a licensed speech-language pathologist specializing in voice disorders to lead you through this process.

• How do I take care of my voice now and over the long term?

-Drink lots of water (64-80oz/day for adults)
-Cut down on caffeine and alcohol
-Rest your voice after excessive talking
-No screaming
-Don't speak over background noise or over distance for long periods of time
-Limit voice use when you are sick
-Don't cough or clear your throat
-Don't take OTC throat medications with "anesthetic" or menthol
-Take you reflux medications correctly (30-60 min before meals)
-Follow behavioral recommendations for reflux control
-Use good posture: Shoulders back, head high
-No Smoking!!!!

* The information in this section is for educational purposes only and is not a replacement for examination by a medical professional.