By: Victoria Pavelko, MS, CCC-SLP
Have you noticed a sudden change in your voice? Or, do you have moments of no voice at all? Often, this is the result of muscle tension dysphonia one of the most common voice disorders. Changes in the way the voice sounds or feels may be due to tension in the muscles that assist in vocal production. This may include: tension in the jaw, throat, tongue and larynx. Muscles can become tight making it difficult to use your voice efficiently.
Muscle tension dysphonia can occur in men and women equally and is usually caused by abuse or misuse of the voice. It can occur after someone has been sick with laryngitis or a cold/flu virus. Asthma and acid reflux can also contribute. Even stress or emotional life changes can cause tension in the muscles resulting in a hoarse vocal quality. In addition to taking care of our physical selves we need to consider ho our mental health effects of well-being.
Muscle tension dysphonia is associated with experiencing at least two of the following symptoms: weak, hoarse, breathy, strained, tense or rough sounding voice. The voice may also cut in and out, getting weaker as the person speaks throughout the day. ENTs can diagnose muscle tension dysphonia when viewing the larynx and vocal folds while looking down the throat with a videostrobe. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can then develop a patient specific treatment plan.
Treatment requires a multipronged approach. The SLP will provide vocal hygiene education, teaching the patient how they are misusing or abusing their voice, and techniques to overcome these habits. Staying hydrated, taking periods of rest throughout the day, not yelling, and using appropriate breathing techniques are just some of the initial stages of therapy.
Voice therapy is highly individualized – SLPs recognize everyone experiences different symptoms related to dysphonia. Treatment strategies are modified to be patient –centered and remain highly effective.
If your voice has changed recently – seek the support of a speech–language pathologist today. A healthy voice yields a better quality of life.