Voice Therapy Service for Adults

Spotting the Signs

We all take our voice for granted. It’s always there when we need it… until it’s not! Many of us will have experienced voice changes with a cough or a cold, but what happens if your voice doesn’t feel or sound like normal for long periods of time?

At ISLTS we understand that experiencing difficulties with your voice can be a worrying and frustrating time. Many professions require high voice use, such as teachers, salespeople, call centre workers, and singers/performers. Likewise, many medical conditions and surgeries can impact the quality of your voice, such as those with asthma, or people who have had a partial or total thyroidectomy.

If your voice sounds different for more than 2 weeks, please contact your GP or an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor.

Ear, Nose & Throat Referral

ISLTS 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).

Please note, for those not yet reviewed by an ENT doctor, we can offer a one-off, general advice-only session. We strongly encourage you to seek an ENT referral via your GP or privately.

What are voice disorders?

Voice disorders are a range of conditions that affect the voice box (larynx). They can cause changes to the sound of your voice; this is caused dysphonia. It may sound breathy, rough, weak, or strained. Sometimes people describe their voice as croaky, hoarse, gravelly, or squeaky. Often people with voice disorders might also experience pain or aching, tiredness or fatigue, or other physical sensations in their throat.

How Do We Deliver Voice Therapy?

Voice Therapy at ISLTS is offered by Specialist Speech and Language Therapists. At your initial consultation, we will:

Take a full case history and ask you to use your voice so the therapist can listen to your voice quality. It doesn’t matter if you can sing or not- the therapist is listening to specific features of your voice, not the note you’re producing!
Discuss your specific difficulties and what might be contributing to them. You’ll also learn more about the anatomy of your voice box, and how voice is produced.
Advise you immediately on how to begin caring for your voice, and arrange a follow up session to begin specific voice intervention.
Produce an individually tailored, evidence-based voice therapy plan. Voice Therapy sessions often involve your therapist signposting you to other services, advising you of lifestyle or environmental changes to benefit your voice, and giving you specific strategies or exercises to try.

Sessions are offered on an individual basis; this may range from every few weeks, to every month, to longer. Everyone’s needs are different, and Voice Therapy requires you to go away and work at it outside of your appointments.

Your therapist will also liaise with your GP and ENT doctor as required with your consent.

How is Voice Therapy Delivered?

Voice Therapy at ISLTS is offered in person at our clinic, or online via video consultation.

Testimonials

Thank you for sending all the feedback following a really good session on Monday. It's really exciting and encouraging to reflect on how well he is doing and all the changes and developments that have taken place since we started coming to see you. He also really loves coming to see you!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common symptoms include hoarseness, a raspy or strained voice, reduced vocal range, vocal fatigue, difficulty projecting the voice, or ongoing throat discomfort.

Every voice is different. Persistent hoarseness can be caused by a wide range of factors, such as strain, reflux, allergies, infections, smoking, stress, or structural changes to the vocal cords, amongst many other causes. If you experience a voice change for more than two weeks, speak to your GP to gain a referral to an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor.

If you are concerned about your voice, you should speak with your GP or Ear, Nose & Throat doctor.

You must be seen by an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor, who may examine your vocal cords. You can access ENT via the NHS (by speaking with your GP for a referral) or privately.

Once you have been seen by ENT, they may refer you for Voice Therapy, or you can refer yourself. Your Voice Therapist will need to see a copy of the ENT report/letter.

Read more about our Specialist Services.

Every voice is different. Many voices improve with therapy, lifestyle changes, and healthy voice habits.

Read more about our specialist voice therapy and how it helped teacher Sarah regain her voice.

Every person is different. Common causes include vocal strain, illness, reflux, stress, heavy voice use, and lifestyle or occupational demands, amongst many other reasons. Some medical conditions or medications can also affect the voice.

Voice therapy focuses on efficient breathing, reducing tension, improving clarity and comfort, and building strong, healthy vocal habits for everyday use. It helps restore ease and confidence in communication.

If your voice changes last longer than two weeks, speak to your GP who may refer you to ENT. Once seen by ENT, you can access support from a Voice Specialist Speech and Language Therapist.