What do ministers, teachers and professional singers all have in common? They each rely on their voice. If their voice fails, it can severely impact their work. We all rely on our voices for day-to-day communication, which is why healthy vocal cords are so important.

Speech therapy covers a broad range of communication and swallowing disorders. “Voice therapy is actually a subspecialty of speech therapy, and voice therapists work on preventing and treating voice disorders,” says Carol Rue, MA, CCC-SLP, a voice therapist with Park Nicollet Clinic—St. Louis Park. Voice disorders can stem from:

• paralyzed vocal cords, caused by a tumor, infection or trauma
• callous-like nodules on the vocal cords caused by irritation
• polyps and cysts, which can result from overuse or improper use
• injury from acid reflux, throat infections or cancer
• vocal cord dysfunction, a breathing problem that causes feelings of airway constriction
• chronic cough, which can irritate vocal cords
• smoking
• aging

Restoring your voice
For many voice disorders, doctors and patients prefer to start with therapy, which typically includes six to eight visits over a few months, to see if the voice function can be returned to normal. In some cases, surgery may be an option.

Often, therapists begin with “vocal hygiene,” which teaches patients how to take care of their voices. Therapists may teach patients breathing exercises to relax the vocal cords. Other exercises, such as sliding between high- and low-pitched sounds, help patients stretch and contract the vocal cords. In some cases, voice therapists treat people with vocal cord dysfunction by teaching them exercises to “open the throat” for easier breathing.

“I listen very carefully and modify exercises for each patient,” says Rue, who has a background in singing and chose to become a voice therapist after being treated for her own voice disorder. “I especially enjoy working with singers,” she adds. “We share a passion for music and use the same terminology.”

Prevention is best
Although some voice disorders are unavoidable, Rue encourages people to protect their voices by following these tips:

• do not smoke
• drink plenty of water to keep the vocal cords hydrated and lubricated so they can vibrate freely
• don’t abuse your voice by screaming or cheering excessively at sporting events
• avoid clearing your throat, as throat clearing causes the vocal cords to grind together (try swallowing instead)
• perform “warm up” and “cool down” exercises before and after any strenuous voice use by humming or sliding the voice up and down in your pitch range

Team approach
If a voice problem arises, Rue encourages you to visit an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, who may work with a speech therapist to diagnose the cause. Often, a videostroboscopy exam is used to check for nodules, hemorrhages or other lesions by viewing vibrating vocal cords under high magnification.

Once the cause is detected, voice therapy can begin. “At Park Nicollet voice disorders rehabilitation, when a doctor refers patients to us, we evaluate them right away, so they don’t have to schedule and wait for another appointment," Rue explains. “We have a close relationship with ENTs and have learned a lot about each other’s profession. This has been a benefit for us and our patients.”

For a doctor who can help you with voice issues, call 952-993-5900 or visit parknicollet.com/rehab.