Vocal fold nodules develop due to trauma of the vocal folds. When you use your voice incorrectly over time, the vocal folds might become swollen. These swollen areas then become nodules that are sometimes called ‘soft nodules’ but as they progress they can be called ‘hard nodules’ and be harder to treat.
Many people that we see ask us whether its too late to change their speech now they are an Adult. Adults we speak with many have low confidence because of the lisp impacting on meetings, presentations, dating and interviews. It may cause them to avoid some of these situations. Some avoid words with the /s/ sound.
Here we share a personal experience of one of our clients ; of the impact of the lisp and their experience of therapy.
LSVT loud ® stands for Lee Silverman Voice Technique. It is a evidence based Speech and Language Therapy technique that improves loudness for people with Parkinson’s disease.
Voice Therapy will explore the reasons in greater depth that you lose your voice frequently. This may be due to the ways in which you use your voice ineffectively, tension within the larynx, reflux or not taking care of your voice in the best way. Voice Therapy the recommended treatment for voice disorders.
In most cases, Muscle Tension Dysphonia produces vocal symptoms without any actual physical damage. However, if the voice continues to be used ineffectively, it can cause changes to the vocal folds. Voice Therapy is an effective treatment for Muscle Tension Dysphonia.
Muscle Tension dysphonia (MTD) and laryngo-pharyngeal reflux often co-occur. We see clients that may have not responded to medications. Voice therapy can boost the recovery period and is essential to reduce discomfort and overcome damaging behaviours
We now know the cause of stuttering is not due to anxiety. Rather, it is regarded as having a neurological cause - differences have been found in areas of the brain involved in talking for those who stutter compared with those who do not stutter. In addition, stuttering has a genetic or hereditary component and tends to run in families.
There are two types of therapy – impairment and functional therapy. Impairment based therapy is usually repeated exercises based on your goals using books or apps. Functional therapy is the focus on real life goals that reflect your everyday communication interactions with others. This might involve training family members in supportive communication skills. As therapists, its important to work on both aspects to support your communication skills