Voice Therapy

As a speech-language pathologist (SLP) at Well Said, I often work with adults who come in with voice concerns that affect their work, their confidence, and their quality of life. One therapy approach that many people find helpful is called Conversation Training Therapy, or CTT. It’s a newer method that’s gaining attention for being practical, efficient, and very much focused on real life. In this blog post, I would like to walk you through what CTT is, who it is for, how it works. My hope is that by the end, you’ll have a better understanding of how this type of therapy might help you find ease and confidence in your voice again.

Neurological voice disorders are voice disorders that are caused due to any damage in the nervous system. This may affect the pitch, quality, volume of the voice and may also result in an increase in the vocal effort to produce speech. These disorders not only reduce a person’s ability to speak clearly but can also significantly affect their quality of life, self-esteem, and social interaction.

Apraxia is a neurological condition, where a person is unable to do a task intentionally, even though they do not have any muscle weakness or incoordination. Apraxia is caused due to damage in the areas of the brain that are responsible for motor planning and motor execution. Because of this, people with Apraxia find it difficult to perform a task when instructed.  

This article outlines the anatomy and physiology of the voice, vocal health and how to use your voice effectively to exude confidence and clarity.

Voice is generally characterized by pitch, volume and quality. Generally, an average voice often has an appropriate pitch, good quality and an adequate amount of volume. Rapid changes in these often result in an unstable voice. 

I was an actor for many years (and, in fact, I still am from time to time). This means I have many old friends who are still working in the industry and rely on their voices to make a living.

Pitch is a component of voice that determines how high or low it sounds. It is an important feature that determines a voice. Generally, a feminine voice has a higher pitch and a masculine voice has a lower pitch. The pitch of a voice is determined by a number of factors which are: the size of the vocal folds, the size of the larynx, the muscles of the larynx and the number of times vocal folds vibrate while producing voice.

The technique of straw phonation has gained considerable attention for its effectiveness and simplicity. This technique is part of a broader category known as Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract (SOVT) exercises. Both speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and vocal coaches use the technique to help clients improve resonance and vocal health.

Resonance, in very simple terms, is the vibration of a structure when its frequency is being  matched. In the human body, there are different cavities which can contribute to vocal resonance. A change in resonance changes the quality of a voice. 

Breathing is the fundamental part of life as it allows us to live. Not only is it essential to survive but it  also plays a fundamental role in speech production. Breathing while speaking is so important as it is the basis for using our voice.