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Voice Disorders
Performance Medicine is a pioneer in vocal physiotherapy, understanding voice disorders and treating them with the same expertise we apply to everything else.
Common Voice Disorders are;
- Muscle Tension Dysphonia
- Vocal Fatigue
- Vocal Nodules
Muscle Tension Dysphonia
Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD) is a voice disorder caused by excessive tension in and around the larynx. This tension can affect voice quality, making it sound breathy, husky, hoarse, or effortful. You may also experience voice breaks and discomfort in the neck and jaw.
Vocal Physiotherapy helps by assessing tension, discomfort, and structural changes in the neck and larynx. Through manual therapy, breathing techniques, and postural retraining, research shows it can be highly effective in treating MTD.
Vocal Nodules
Vocal nodules are lesions that develop on both vocal folds. They start as soft tissue but may harden over time due to overuse or misuse of the voice.
If you have vocal nodules, your voice might sound husky or breathy and feel strained. This may lead to added muscular tension around the larynx and neck. Vocal Physiotherapy aims to reduce this tension.
Your physiotherapist will collaborate with your Speech Pathologist and ENT consultant to help you achieve the best outcome.
Vocal Fatigue
Vocal fatigue often affects professional voice users such as teachers, customer service officers, hospitality staff, and singers. It is especially common in the Music Theatre genre.
When fatigued, your voice may feel tired and tense, especially near the larynx and front of the neck. Vocal Physiotherapy addresses muscular tension and posture to support more efficient voice use.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s essential to be assessed by a Speech Pathologist and ENT consultant. Your physiotherapist will coordinate with them to ensure the most effective care.
Related Practitioners
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Elissa Petesic (she/her)
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Emily McLean (she/her)
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Stacey Kipouridis (she/her)
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Sam Yeung (she/her)
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Corbin Dickfos (he/him)
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Dr Brea Kunstler
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