Health Topics

Yelling or making loud "play" sounds, throat clearing, and excessive coughing can cause a voice disorder. These voice behaviors cause the vocal folds to close hard against each other, causing blister-like bruises. These bruised areas can harden into callus-like bumps called vocal nodules. Other causes of voice disorders can include:

• Subglottic stenosis (narrowing of the airway)
• Vocal fold paralysis (immobility of one or both vocal folds)
• Vocal fold cysts (fluid-filled sac)
• Granuloma (area of inflammation in tissue due to injury)
• Papilloma (wart-like growths)
• Laryngeal web (band of tissue between vocal folds)

• Hoarseness
• Breathiness
• Raspiness
• Harshness
• Volume that is too loud or too soft
• Pitch that is too high or low for age
• Running out of air before the end of a sentence

Some voice disorders are treated by medication or surgery. Other voice disorders can be treated with voice therapy. Voice therapy consists of learning new patterns of voice production and eliminating old ones. Some of the therapy includes:

• Identifying and eliminating harmful voice patterns (such as yelling, screaming and making superhero sounds)
• Improving vocal health by increasing water intake and avoiding caffeine
• Using specific voice exercises designed to balance and strengthen the vocal folds and other muscles of the larynx
• Learning to use the new voice production in everyday communication

The purpose of voice therapy is to teach your child a new way to produce voice. For this skill to improve, the child should practice the voice exercises daily. The family members should also look at their own voice use. Changing your own voice and reinforcing positive voice behaviors will serve as a good model for your child.

• Do not yell to communicate.
• Drink plenty of water and avoid soft drinks or coffee.
• Encourage “voice naps.” For example, play a game without any words. This helps your child give his or her voice a rest.
• Reward your child when he or she uses the “better” voice, or practices good vocal health. Telling your child about his or her good voice habits is much more effective than complaining about poor voice habits.