Chelsea Osei

Have you ever said and truly meant the phrase, “thanks a lot, I’m fine, it’s okay” but the listener didn’t believe you? It’s likely not due to what you said, but rather how you said it. This article highlights how tone of voice plays a key role in communication and why we can’t rely solely on the words we use to fully and accurately express ourselves.

Social Pragmatic Communication Disorder is defined by difficulties with the pragmatic use of language. This means how context influences the meaning of what is being said, going beyond just listening to the words but taking in the whole picture to understand the intended message.

When people think about voice therapy, they often imagine exercises that train the voice directly. While that is certainly one approach, voice therapy can also involve working with the body itself to release tension. This can involve improving posture, and directly releasing muscle tension, to create the right conditions for the voice to function more freely.

Neurogenic stuttering is an acquired fluency disorder that emerges after damage to the brain. It is linked to neurological events such as strokes, head injuries, or progressive diseases that interfere with the normal control of speech. Unlike developmental stuttering, where there is no confirmed cause, neurogenic stuttering is tied to specific structural or functional changes in the nervous system.

If you’re reading this, you may be trying to figure out how to approach your coworker or partner or even your parents about a disagreement. As a society we’ve pushed the unproductive narrative that conflict is a bad thing and should be avoided. This article will address why avoidance happens, the negative impact of it and how to approach conflict with assertiveness and confidence.

Small talk is something that many people do not always feel comfortable with. Some may feel they do not know what to say or how to carry the conversation because it feels awkward. Others may feel the conversation is pointless and forced and do not try to put much effort into it. Even though it may feel this way sometimes, whether the conversation feels important or not, it is a window to building relationships and potentially even starting longer conversations.

When most people think about their voice, they tend to focus on the sound that comes out of their mouth. They might notice the pitch of their voice, whether it is high or low. They might notice the loudness, whether they are speaking softly or projecting strongly. But there is another important quality of the voice that often goes unnoticed until something feels “off.” This quality is called vocal resonance.

Your accent is a reflection of your identity, culture and personal history and deserves to be respected and valued. In this article, you’ll learn what accent modification actually is, the ethics behind it and what success actually looks like.

Apraxia of speech involves inconsistent errors and difficulty coordinating the precise  movements needed for speaking, even when the person knows exactly what they want to say.  On the other hand, misarticulation leads to predictable, repeated mistakes in producing specific  sounds. These differences matter because they require distinct approaches to assessment and  therapy.

Often I have clients telling me they feel like they have a lump in their throat or they are out of breath when speaking, and this is most often the cause of tension due to anxiety. But the good news is these voice symptoms that appear can be managed with the proper tools and techniques.