VOICE DISORDERS

There are different types of voice disorders. The most common causes in children include colds, allergies, bronchitis, exposure to irritants and overuse/misuse of one’s voice. For example, vocal cord nodules are benign (noncancerous) growths on both vocal cords that are caused by vocal abuse and may be accompanied by symptoms such as hoarseness, breathiness, a "rough" and/or "scratchy" voice "lump in the throat" sensation, decreased pitch range and fatigue. Voice therapy is a program designed to reduce hoarseness through guided change in vocal behaviors and lifestyle changes and should be administered by a licensed speech-language pathologist. Voice therapy consists of a variety of tasks designed to eliminate harmful vocal behavior, shape healthy vocal behavior, and assist in vocal fold wound healing after surgery or injury. Voice therapy for hoarseness generally consists of one to two therapy sessions each week for 4–8 weeks (Hapner et al., 2009).