Voice disorders - Dysphonia
What is dysphonia?
Dysphonia (or voice disorder) is a difficulty producing a healthy, effortless voice in everyday life. It can manifest itself through a variety of vocal symptoms including altered voice quality (e.g., a hoarse or weak voice), decreased vocal abilities (e.g., inability to speak for long periods of time, speak loudly, or shout), fatigue, or throat pain. The origins of these vocal problems include physiological causes such as vocal cord damage (e.g., nodules, cysts, polyps), and functional causes such as overuse or suboptimal use of the voice. Aging can also lead to a decline in voice quality (presbyphonia). Your voice may also have changed after surgery on the vocal cords or larynx, or after intubation.
An ENT consultation will be requested by the speech-language therapist to determine the origin of your voice disorder. Speech therapy will help you regain vocal comfort and a functional and safe voice.
Who is at risk of developing dysphonia/voice disorders?
Some professions, such as teaching, involve excessive use of the voice and are therefore a risk factor for developing a voice disorder. Children are also at risk of developing vocal cord lesions because they may have harmful phonatory behaviors (e.g., they shout a lot with an inappropriate vocal gesture).
Why consult with a speech-language therapist?
A voice disorder has an impact on personal and professional life. In the private sphere, it can interfere with social interactions, participation in activities (e.g. singing) and reduce self-esteem. In the professional sphere, it can interfere with the performance of certain tasks (e.g. telephone calls, participating in meetings) and have a negative impact on well-being, satisfaction and motivation at work. Voice support with a speech-language therapist aims to restore healthy and effortless vocal gestures, and thus regain a functional voice and pleasure in using one's voice.
What is vocal adjustment?
Voice adjustment involves modulating the voice to match the personality or needs of the person. For example, a man who finds his voice too high-pitched or nasal, or a woman who finds her voice too childish or too deep may need voice adjustment. A teenager whose voice does not seem to change (puberphonia) may need voice adjustment to develop a deeper voice.
Our approach is human, respectful of your realities, and focused on your needs.
First appointment: assessment
The first appointment allows the speech-language therapist to draw up a portrait of your vocal problem and its impact on your daily life. This assessment consists of questionnaires, an acoustic analysis of the voice and a conversation with the speech-language therapist. With your consent, your voice will be recorded during specific vocal tasks, which will provide acoustic data complementary to the speech-language therapist's observations.
Following appointments
Following the assessment, the speech-language therapist will share with you his/her conclusion and recommendations. You can then decide whether you would like to begin voice therapy. If so, the objectives of the voice therapy will be established together and follow-up appointments will be scheduled. During these follow-up appointments, the speech-language therapist will support you in restoring your voice by helping you to:
Identify the causes of the disorder;
Implement solutions in your daily life to make using your voice safe;
Develop your proprioception, listening skills, and knowledge of your own voice;
Develop safe vocal gestures.
The speech-language therapist will provide ongoing support in a climate of trust, respect, and non-judgment.
Fares - Voice disorder / Dysphonia
Assessment (60 min)
Follow-up appointment (60 min)
Follow-up appointment (30 min)
- 250 $
- 130 $
- 65 $
The Euphoros Clinic offers a reduced rate. Contact info@clinique-euphoros.ca to determine if you are eligible.