Voice Therapies

Question 1

What is meant by symptomatic voice therapy?

Answer 1

a collection of different techniques and you use whatever works with your client

Question 2

In particular for HNC we are looking at what two types of symptomatic voice techniques?

Answer 2

• Relaxing techniques for a hyperfunctional system

- Activating techniques for a hypofunctional system

Question 3

In the Cummings text chapter that, Tim outlines 3 techniques for promoting increased vocal fold closure and adding tension a post operative hypofunctional voice, what are they?

Answer 3

• using hands to push against an object or against each other
• hard vocal attack
• half swallow boom

Question 4

In the Cummings text chapter that, Tim outlines 3 techniques to relax the voice and promote easy, effortless phonation in post operative hyperfunctional voice, what are they?

Answer 4

• chanting voice
• voiced lip trill
• chewing technique

Question 5

Describe the technique of pushing hands against each other or against an object

Answer 5

• activating

- increases the muscle tone in the upper body, and this in turn can increase the strength of vocal fold closure

Question 6

Describe hard vocal attack

Answer 6

• activating

- ensures that the patient will achieve maximum vocal fold closure

Question 7

Describe the half swallow boom

Answer 7

-activating
-combines a swallow maneuver with voice production
-using the swallowing maneuver to bring the larynx up high and the to get the
vocal folds closed and we use this adduction to start voicing
-Procedure: Swallow. Right on top of the swallow, say ‘boom’

Question 8

Describe chanting voice/chant talk

Answer 8

• relaxing

- employs an elevated pitch and a slightly breathy voice quality in a psalm-style chant

Question 9

Describe the voiced lip trill

Answer 9

• relaxing
• makes use of the fact that the lips are heavier than the vocal folds – when the patient is blowing a voiced raspberry, the vocal folds have to be slightly parted to allow for sufficient airflow

Question 10

Describe the chewing technique

Answer 10

-relaxing
-uses exaggerated mandibular and lingual motion to relax the patient’s voice.
-Pretend chewing of a tasty food, exaggerate the
chewing motions, Add soft phonation and start mumbling with a full mouth. The tongue must move around
(not just jaw motion)
-Alternate chewing and word production. Expand to longer phrases and counting