Voice Therapy

Having a voice that works is something that we all take for granted. The larynx, or voicebox, is a delicate and complex mechanism of muscles, cartilages, ligaments and nerves that work together to produce voicing for speech. But, it is far more than this. Our voice is a very powerful tool, important to a person’s emotional and intellectual wellbeing. Much of who we are - our personality and self identity - is carried in our voice.

Woman doing voice therapy with her therapist | Eastside Speech Solutions Sydney

Our voice can be injured just like any other part of the body – we call this dysphonia, or a voice disorder. Voice difficulties, while not ‘visible’, can significantly impact our ability to work and socialise, and in some cases can be debilitating.

Vocal Therapy Services

Speech pathologists play a major role in the assessment and management of voice disorders. At Eastside, our therapists develop individualised therapy plans designed to optimise vocal function and improve overall voice production. Please contact us to find out more about how voice therapy can help you.

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Frequently Asked Speech Therapy Questions

For more information about Eastside Speech Solutions and how speech therapy can assist with speech and language difficulties:

Who does voice therapy help?
Voice therapy can benefit anyone with voice difficulties, including both children and adults. Vocally demanding professions are at a higher risk of developing a voice disorder; such as teachers, performers, presenters and public speakers. Voice therapy can also be helpful for those wishing to modify the sound of their voice, such as transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.
What causes a voice disorder?

Voice difficulties can develop for a variety of reasons, including:

  • Physical trauma, injury or surgical complications
  • Organic lesions to the vocal fold anatomy (e.g. nodules, cysts, polyps, cancer)
  • Acute or degenerative neurological conditions (e.g. stroke, brain injury, Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Neurone Disease)
  • Chronic illness or infection (e.g. recurring respiratory infections, HPV, hormone imbalance, severe reflux)
  • Patterns of muscle tension or misuse (e.g. excessive shouting or throat clearing)
  • Environmental irritants (e.g. dust/pollution, chemical/toxin exposure, smoking or substance abuse)
  • Psychological factors (e.g. environmental stress, PTSD, gender dysphoria)
How do I know if I have a voice disorder?
If you notice changes in how your voice sounds (e.g. husky, breathy, rough, hoarse, too soft/loud, too high/low in pitch) and/or feels (e.g. effortful, strained, tight, fatigued, painful); we recommend consulting your GP for referral to a speech pathologist or ENT.
Will my voice problem go away by itself?
While some mild voice injuries can recover naturally (e.g. following an isolated phonotraumatic event like yelling at a concert), many voice disorders continue to worsen when left untreated. Early intervention is always ideal for remediating or preventing further vocal damage, in some cases even avoiding the need for painful and expensive surgeries down the track. If you have concerns about your voice or throat that persist beyond seven days, ask your GP for a referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist. They may recommend speech therapy for ongoing management of the voice problem.
What does therapy involve?
Therapy procedures will vary depending on the individual’s voice difficulties, however most therapy plans involve some combination of regular exercises and/or environmental modifications. Regular practice is essential - think of it as physiotherapy for your voice!
What if I can’t make it into clinic?
Voice therapy does not need to be face-to-face. In fact, research has shown it can be very effective and lead to similarly positive outcomes via telehealth. This is especially convenient for our busy teachers and other professional voice users, who can simply dial into sessions from home or work.
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