When people hear the term ‘voice therapy’, they often picture singing exercises or vocal warm-ups. In reality, adult voice therapy is a structured, evidence-based approach tailored to an individual’s vocal needs and goals. Whether someone is experiencing vocal fatigue, hoarseness, or strain, therapy is designed to support them in achieving their optimum voice recovery.
To illustrate what adult voice therapy looks like in practice, let’s follow the journey of Sarah (name has been changed), a 47-year-old woman diagnosed by her Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor with mild muscle tension dysphonia (MTD). Sarah is a teacher who has noticed increasing vocal strain, particularly towards the end of the school day. She describes a tight, effortful voice that sometimes feels weak and inconsistent. By the time she came to us for help, she had been struggling for several months.
Perceptual Voice Assessment and Case History
The first session of voice therapy focuses on gathering a comprehensive understanding of the individual’s voice difficulties. For Sarah, this meant discussing her voice symptoms, daily voice use, and any lifestyle factors that could be contributing to her challenges. The taking of a case history helps us to identify potential triggers, such as stress, hydration habits, and patterns of voice use throughout the day. A perceptual voice assessment was then conducted. This involved:
- Listening to Sarah’s natural speaking voice across different contexts (conversation, reading, and sustained sounds).
- Noting any audible signs of strain, breathiness, or instability.
- Exploring how easily she could adjust her voice pitch and loudness.
- Assessing whether her voice improved or worsened with certain vocal tasks.
Through this process, it became evident that Sarah was engaging excessive muscle tension in her neck and throat, leading to vocal fatigue. Additionally, she reported increased tension when speaking in noisy environments or when under stress.
Establishing a Therapy Plan
Following the assessment, Sarah’s therapy plan was tailored to her specific needs. The primary goal is to help her achieve an efficient and sustainable voice, reducing strain and promoting ease in her speech. Over the next 6-8 months, our therapy sessions focused on:
- Education – about voice function and healthy voice use.
- Strategies – to reduce unnecessary tension and effort in speaking. Sarah appeared to use her ‘teaching voice’ all the time, and needed support to find a more appropriate volume to speak at.
- Adjustments – to her vocal habits, both at work and in daily life. Sarah focussed on increasing the amount of water that she drinks at work as well as reducing tension in her upper body by taking up yoga!
- Guided practice – with exercises designed to facilitate optimal voice recovery. Gentle and specific exercises that help the vocal cords come together fully to achieve a healthier voice.
Throughout the process, Sarah’s progress was monitored and adjustments made to her therapy plan as needed. Sessions were conducted face-to-face, or via Zoom, taking place every few weeks or as she felt she needed them. Over time, she became more aware of the factors influencing her voice and developed greater control over her vocal function.
The Journey to Optimum Voice Recovery
By the end of her therapy journey, Sarah reported improvements. Her voice felt more stable, and she no longer experienced the same level of strain at the end of her workday. Through a combination of education, self-awareness, and guided voice therapy techniques, she was able to regain confidence in her voice and reduce the discomfort that had once held her back.
It’s important to remember that Adult Voice Therapy is a process, not a quick fix. Each individual’s journey will be different, but with the right support, achieving an efficient, sustainable voice is absolutely possible. For more information on spotting the signs and how we can help, visit our voice therapy page.
We are pleased to offer an individualised and effective one-to-one Voice Therapy service to patients who have already been assessed by an ENT Doctor or Consultant within the last 6 months (as per RCSLT Guidelines). If you or someone you know is experiencing voice difficulties or voice change for 2 or more weeks, we advise you speak with your GP or Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor first.
