There has been a run on adolescent voice referrals lately. I attribute this to the onset of the school year, increasing demands on voice function (sports, musicals, theatre, cheer, social activities, etc.), and subsequently increased awareness of vocal limitations either by the patient themselves or those around them (parents, teachers, instructors, etc.). The most common diagnoses in this population lately have included vocal fold nodules, muscle tension dysphonia (MTD), and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Vocal nodules are essentially callouses that form on the surface of the vocal folds at the point where the greatest shearing forces occurs during vocal fold vibration. MTD can occur alone, or in the presence of other vocal diagnoses, characterized by too much diffuse tension throughout the vocal mechanism. LPR is when stomach acids rise to the level of the throat, causing irritation and potential injury.
Optimal voice production is achieved through sustained airflow, which sets the vocal folds into regular periodic vibration, and then resonance, which is how the sound travels through the head. The adolescent voice is just as vulnerable as anyone else’s. They are at great risk often because of lack of daily voice care, prolonged and varied voice use without rest or attention to technique, loud voice use without attention to strain, and failure to prioritize voice demands.
This article by Wendy LeBornge, PhD is not new, but a great resource for the adolescent vocal performer http://goo.gl/mBsKzn.
Unfortunately, no one has unlimited vocal use and performance abilities. Voice therapy efforts focus on establishing a daily voice care routine, identifying risk factors and trouble-shooting, and direct exercises to normalize vocal physiology across the varied demands of voice use.
Help your teen take care of their voice! Now is the time to establish a life-time routine of voice care. Contact Voicetrainer LLC at info@voicetrainer.com or 202-580-6646 to schedule an appointment.
~LPV
