Professional Voice Disorders

Evaluation             Treatment

For the singer, actor, broadcaster, educator, clergy, or politician, the voice is a precious instrument. Like an athlete who must keep his or her body in excellent physical condition, someone who must speak for several hours a day, sing, or deliver convincing speeches with finesse depends upon a healthy and well-functioning larynx (voice box).

The Professional Voice Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin has been created specifically to meet the needs of "vocal athletes." The vocal mechanism is a complicated and delicate structure, and the voice care of professional voice users requires special expertise from clinicians who understand their concerns. 

Reduced voice clarity, stamina, pitch range, or ability to project, even when subtle, can be frustrating and distressing to those who depend on their voices for a living. Working with a team of professionals dedicated to treating high-end voice users can yield important answers and help provide ways to solving voice problems. 

Evaluation

A thorough examination can identify medical problems, both mild and serious, which can then be resolved with appropriate treatment, allowing the individual to keep up with voice demands.

Voice assessment is a collaborative effort in which the patient, laryngologist ("voice doctor"), and voice/speech pathologist are all active participants. Also included may be a nurse practitioner, singing voice specialist, and/or a psychologist. 

• Obtaining a thorough history of the problem or concern
• Obtaining detailed information of voice-related performance needs (occupational and social)
• Performing state-of-the-art physical examining of the vocal mechanism (videostroboscopy)
• Performing computer analysis of voice acoustics and aerodynamic measures
• Observation of how an individual is using his or her voice under real-life conditions, such as in a classroom, studio, or theater may also be included
  

Evaluation results and treatment recommendations are discussed at the time of the initial assessment, as well as treatment options. 

Treatment

Treatment goals are designed in collaboration with the client. Treatment recommendations are dependent on this assessment and may include working with a speech pathologist specializing in the professional or singing voice, working with a singing instructor with special knowledge of voice physiology, and/or making healthy adjustments to diet and voice use habits. In a minority of cases, surgery is also recommended to improve or restore voice function.