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***COVID-19 update: all services, including individual, group classes, and consultations, are provided online via Zoom videoconferencing. Insurance coverage for online services is the same as for in-office services. Learn more about online speech therapy here, or contact us for more information.***

What is voice therapy?

The goal of voice work is to build a strong, clear, healthy voice that meets your vocal demands and fits your personal communication style. Working on the voice typically includes a blend of learning about voice production, physical exercises and technique work, and developing strategies for challenging speaking situations.

Voice work addresses:

  • A voice that feels weak or “tires out” by the end of the day
  • Hoarse, strained, breathy, squeaky, or gurgly voice quality
  • Diagnosed problems including vocal nodules, vocal cord dysfunction, spasmodic dysphonia, vocal polyps, or damage following surgery
  • Inability to project your voice, especially in noisy environments like restaurants or events
  • Problems related to breathing and speaking
  • Stylistic voice aspects such as authority or confidence
  • Reducing uptalk or vocal fry
  • Transgender voice and voice feminization
  • Other voice and gender and/or identity concerns

 

What happens in voice therapy?

Voice therapy typically begins by learning about the muscles that control your voice, so that you understand how to use them in a healthy and effective way. Your clinician may assign you a “vocal hygiene program”, a fancy term for tips and tricks to keep your voice safe and functional. 

Early voice therapy is often very technical. Your clinician will teach you exercises and assign home practice. Home practice is an essential component of voice therapy. Your voice is a muscle, it requires conditioning and repetition to heal and learn new patterns. Attending therapy sessions while ignoring home practice results in little to no progress.

Once you master the fundamental exercises, therapy shifts to sustaining your new, stronger, healthier voice in connected speech and conversation. This process is not dissimilar to training for long-distance running: you will start using your new skills in short conversation samples, then gradually extend to longer and longer periods of talking.

* Please note: An ENT referral is often required prior to starting voice therapy. We will be happy to assist with this process as needed.

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“Speech IRL has been a huge help in feeling more comfortable with myself post-transition -- it's incredible how many moving parts are involved in something as "simple" as speaking, and the speech therapy I've gotten there has been instrumental in taking charge of my own voice. I can navigate interactions that I once dreaded with ease, and feel far more comfortable doing so. I'm very grateful to all the fantastic people working there, who have consistently done their best to help me grow and improve. They really do amazing work!”
C, professional