Archives

A Study of Vocal Facilitating Techniques Compared to Manual Circumlaryngeal Therapy in Teachers with Muscle Tension Dysphonia (2020)

January 13, 2022 by Megan Berg.
Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) is frequently diagnosed within the teaching profession because it makes up the largest group of professional voice users worldwide. Teaching can cause environmental factors such as poor vocal hygiene and psychological factors such as emotional and physical stress on the voice. All of this puts teachers at a higher risk for […]
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Effects of a 6-Week Straw Phonation in Water Exercise Program on the Aging Voice (2020)

January 13, 2022 by Megan Berg.
Presbyphonia (aging voice) can be caused by anatomical, physiological, and neurological changes to the voice due to the aging process. These changes can negatively affect a person’s quality of life because of the increased vocal effort, discomfort, and anxiety or frustration of needing to repeat statements in order to be heard. Some of the reported […]
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Tracheoesophageal Puncture (TEP) for Indwelling Voice Prosthesis (2013)

January 13, 2022 by Megan Berg.
Patients included in the study were all diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in the years 1990-2008, and all received a total laryngectomy. 64 of these patients also received a tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) and indwelling voice prosthesis during their laryngectomy, with the remaining 26 receiving the prothesis after their laryngectomy. The group who received their prothesis after […]
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Hyoid Muscle Distonia (2015)

January 13, 2022 by Megan Berg.
The key phrases search at the Movement Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic Rochester revealed 55 patients were administered botulinum toxin to their hyoids during the 10-year time period from 1993-2013. Of those 55 patients, 15 indicated dystonia specially in the hyoid muscle. Of these patients, the average age was 49.5 years. The major symptoms mentioned […]
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Botulinum Toxin in Management of Synkinesis in Patients With Unilateral and Bilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis (2017)

January 11, 2022 by Megan Berg.
The researchers followed 12 patients with airway obstruction due to synkinesis and were treated with BOTOX. All 12 people experienced RLN damage due to medical examination or treatment. Patients were followed every three months (but were seen more frequently if needed), and were followed between 2008 and 2015. BOTOX works by preventing presynaptic release of […]
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Voice Restoration After Laryngectomy

January 10, 2022 by Megan Berg.
This handout describes the advantages and disadvantages of different techniques for voice restoration, including electrolarynx, esophageal speech, and tracheoesophageal puncture. This handout is best suited for patients considering laryngectomy and provides a starting point to discuss voice restoration options before the surgery is completed.
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Voice Exercises

January 10, 2022 by Megan Berg.
This handout includes descriptions for the following exercises: deep breathing, lip/tongue trills, yawn-sigh, pitch slides, voicing vowels, syllable repetitions, and humming scales.
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Throat Clearing Alternatives

January 10, 2022 by Megan Berg.
Frequent unnecessary throat clearing could lead to temporary vocal cord damage. This handout explains some of the natural reasons for throat clearing and how to try to use alternative strategies to reduce vocal cord damage.
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The Relationship Between Breath Support and Speech Production

January 10, 2022 by Megan Berg.
Pulmonary complications are common following brain injury. This handout explains how reduced breath support can lead to speech deficits and provides evidenced-based exercises that can be completed to improve breath support for speech production.
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Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract (SOVT) Exercises

January 5, 2022 by Megan Berg.
SOVT exercises are commonly used in voice treatment because they allow the vocal folds to vibrate with less effort and more ease. They can be helpful for warming up the voice, relaxing the voice throughout the day, cooling down the voice, and promoting vocal longevity.
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