Voice therapy
Assessment and therapy for hoarseness, vocal strain and other voice problems, for ages 10 and up.
Assessment of how your voice is working and what you need it to do
Therapy for hoarseness, vocal fatigue, strain and voice loss
Exercises and home practice matched to your goals
Coordination with your physician or ENT when needed
In person in Guelph or online anywhere in Ontario
What voice therapy is
Your voice is produced when air from the lungs sets the vocal folds vibrating. A voice problem is a change in how the voice sounds or feels: it may be hoarse, breathy, strained, quieter than it used to be, or tiring to use. Voice therapy is a course of exercises and education, provided by a speech-language pathologist, that works on how the voice is being produced.
People often come to voice therapy for hoarseness that has not gone away, a voice that tires or gives out through the day, tightness or discomfort when speaking (often called muscle tension dysphonia), vocal fold nodules or polyps identified by an ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT), or voice changes related to aging or a neurological condition.
A speech-language pathologist does not diagnose medical conditions of the larynx. If your voice has been hoarse for more than a few weeks, an examination by a physician or ENT is recommended, and therapy can be planned alongside their findings.
Goals we may work toward
- A voice that takes less effort to produce
- Less strain or fatigue across your day
- Understanding what aggravates your voice
- A home practice plan you can keep up
- Knowing when medical follow-up is needed
Approaches that may be used
- Semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises
- Resonant voice work
- Laryngeal manual therapy
- Breathing and airflow coordination
- Vocal function exercises
- Education about vocal health and voice use
More voice therapy services
Voice therapy is offered in person in Guelph and online across Ontario, for ages 10 and up.
