Voice

We've all experienced transitory voice problems when we've had a cold, allergies, or temporary laryngitis from too much yelling or screaming.

A diagnosed voice disorder can affect a person's vocal pitch, volume, quality and/or resonance. The voice disorder may be either organic (stemming from a physical cause) or functional (no known physical cause).

Some examples of voice disorders include:

• Vocal nodules
• Spastic dysphonia
• Chronic laryngitis
• Vocal fold paralysis
• Laryngectomy

A comprehensive voice assessment includes:

• Pitch/frequency: Too low? Too high?
• Volume/loudness: Too soft? Too loud?
• Quality: Breathy? Hoarse? Harsh?
• Resonance: Hyponasal? Hypernasal?
• Respiratory support
• Vocal habits and behaviours

Before a voice evaluation can be conducted, evaluation and clearance by an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist (ENT) is necessary to determine the presence or absence of any vocal pathology.

References: 

American Speech-Language Hearing Association