Voice

When should parents be concerned about their child’s hoarse voice?

Any time a hoarse or strained voice lasts for two weeks or longer, your child should be seen by an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT).

Often times the diagnosis is swelling of the vocal cords and/or growths called nodules. These voice problems are caused by harmful use of the voice, also known as vocal abuse and vocal misuse.

Types of Vocal Abuse Include:

• SHOUTING, SCREAMING
• SPEAKING WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE OR “PUSHING”
• CONSTANT THROAT CLEARING OR COUGHING
• STRAINING THE VOICE TO IMITATE NOISES LIKE CAR AND PLANE ENGINES, SIRENS, AND SCREECHING BRAKES

Types of Vocal Misuse Include:

• SPEAKING TOO LOUDLY
• SPEAKING WITH TOO HIGH OR LOW PITCH
• TALKING OVER BACKGROUND NOISE

When these harmful uses of the voice become daily habits, they become a problem, resulting in an unpleasant, inefficient voice.

A complete voice evaluation and voice therapy is often prescribed as part of the treatment for voice problems such as vocal cord swelling and nodules.

However, voice therapy (or surgery, if recommended) will only correct the problem if your child reduces his/her bad voice habits.

You, your child and the speech-language pathologist will join together as a team to help change your child’s vocal habits. Of course, changing habits can be a challenging task! It will require patience, persistence and a sincere effort on the part of each team member.

THE SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AT ABILITIES HAVE IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES TO HELP YOU AND YOUR CHILD:

1. Identify instances of vocal abuse and misuse.
2. Reduce the use of loud, effortful speaking.
3. Explore substitutes for voice use in potentially harmful settings.
4. Reduce the amount of non-speech noises (“sound effects”).
5. Eliminate sources of background noise. Reduce the amount of talking.
6. Reduce the amount of talking.
7. Reward the use of good vocal habits.
8. Identify (and become) good voice models.
9. Be sensitive to health factors.
10. Be sensitive to voice changes.

By addressing all of these areas with a comprehensive therapy plan and practice, you and your child will achieve the goal of longterm improvement in voice quality.

THIS ARTICLE WAS ADAPTED FROM PROTECTING YOUR CHILD’S VOICE BY ANTHONY DEFEO, PH.D. AS IT APPEARED IN PARENT ARTICLES, EDITED BY MARGARET SCHNADER.