Voice and Upper Airway Program

TLC’s Speech-Language Pathology Department offers in-person and virtual voice therapy for adults and children.

Symptoms of a Potential Voice Disorder Can Include:

  1. Rough, breathy, strained, strangled, or inconsistent vocal quality
  2. Abnormally high or low pitch/loud or soft volume
  3. Vocal fatigue or loss of voice after extended use
  4. Frequent coughing or throat clearing
  5. Pain while speaking or singing
  6. Constant or periodic feeling of a lump in the throat
  7. Episodes of breathing difficulties
  8. Frequently running out of breath while speaking or singing
  9. Voice-related gender dysphoria
  10. Loss of vocal range in pitch or volume

Voice and Upper Airway Disorders We Treat Include:

  • Vocal Hyperfunction/Muscle Tension Dysphonia
  • Vocal Nodules and Polyps
  • Induced/Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO/EILO)
    • also called Paradoxical Vocal Cord Motion (PVFM) or Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD)
  • Vocal Fold Paralysis/Paresis
  • Spasmodic Dysphonia
  • Chronic Cough
  • Post-Operative Voice Care
  • Granuloma

Gender-Affirming Voice Care:

  • Gender-affirming voice and communication care, or GAVC, can help transgender and gender diverse individuals align the expression of their speaking voice with their identity. GAVC involves more than just adjusting pitch – intonation, resonance, loudness, speech smoothness, gesture, and many other parameters affect how we use our voice and how we are perceived. Working with a speech-language pathologist to maintain vocal change in an efficient, healthy, and sustainable way is key for long-term success.

Voice and Upper/Airway Evaluations:

TLC’s Voice and Upper Airway evaluations consist of three major parts:

  1. Case History – a detailed conversation with the clinician about the history of the problem or concern, including quality-of-life questionnaires and voice-related daily life tasks
  2. Voice Measurements – recordings are taken of the client performing various vocal tasks; these are analyzed using a variety of technological and perceptual methods to yield both objective and subjective data about vocal quality and functioning
  3. Aerodynamic Measurements – objective and subjective measurements of the client’s respiratory functioning and breath-voice coordination are taken using data from spirometry and other respiratory tasks

Some evaluations may include viewing the throat (pharynx and larynx) using a small, curved mirror, an in-office procedure called mirror laryngoscopy. If further imaging or evaluation is indicated, the clinician may order a referral to an otolaryngologist (ear-nose-and-throat/ENT).

Other referrals the clinician may make to coordinate care include pulmonology, nutrition, allergy, neurology, gastroenterology, cardiology, psychology, and other specialists.

Contact us for more information about our Voice and Upper Airway Program or to schedule services:

301-424-5200 x159 or OutpatientScheduling@TTLC.org