The Importance of Voice Disorders
If you have never had any speech related problems, then you probably take your voice for granted. For people with voice disorders, however, everything from answering the phone to making a presentation at work can be overwhelming.
Many people have voice disorders and don’t even know it. Since the symptoms are nonspecific, it is easy to assume that everything inside of your body is working as it should be. If you are experiencing ongoing and unexplained hoarseness, breathiness, frequent coughing, or if you feel like you need to clear your throat continually, you may have an underlying voice condition. You don’t have to accept a voice disorder as something that will forever impair your life. There are treatments and therapies a voice and speech specialist can use to help you.
What is a Voice Problem?
The American Speech, Language and Hearing Association defines a voice problem as having a pitch, loudness or vocal quality which draws attention to itself rather than to what the speaker is saying. A voice problem may also include pain, discomfort or fatigue when voicing. Voice Disorders range from a mild laryngitis to severe life-threatening diseases that may require extensive treatments. Any hoarseness or voice change which persists for longer than two weeks should be medically evaluated.
Some common signs of a voice disorder include:
Hoarseness
Loss of voice, voice breaks
Changes in pitch
Shortness of breath while speaking or singing
Difficulty maintain/initiating soft voice
Difficulty maintain/initiating loud voice
Sore or scratchy throat
Vocal fatigue when talking
Neck and/or jaw muscle tension
Loss of singing range
Prolonged warm-up time
Constant throat-clearing or coughing
Dry throat or mouth
Tickling or choking sensation
Difficulty swallowing
Lump in throat
Frequent bad breath
Excess mucous or phlegm
Acidic taste in mouth
voice_disorders
Physicians:
04/15/2010
