What I Learned from 6 Weeks of Speech Language Therapy

Doing my "flow phonation" exercises before work

Here’s what happens: I get some sort of virus from my son that starts as a common cold. But within a few days, it morphs into acute laryngitis, which is inflammation of the voice box.

And then I lose my voice.

I’m not talking about a hoarse or scratchy voice. It’s totally absent when this happens.

I lost my voice a total of four times last year. Which made work, socializing, and being a mom very challenging.

This year, I decided something needed to change. So, I signed up for 6 week of virtual speech therapy with a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP).

I’m glad I took the time to do this, because I’m just getting through another episode of acute laryngitis, and the strategies my SLP suggested have been super helpful.

Here’s what I learned:

1.  SLPs are like physios for your voice

My SLP used this analogy and I loved it. She took me through activity modification and a home exercise program, just like I used to do when I was a physiotherapist. And she pointed out that the more adherent I was to my home exercises, the better my voice would become.

2. Voice problems are common

Thirty percent of Canadians will have a voice problem in their lives, most of which are caused by acute laryngitis. This makes sense since the viruses that cause the common cold can migrate into the vocal tract.

Most of the time, this presents as a hoarse voice that lasts for less than a month and gets better without any specific treatment.

3. Vocal rest is needed during the acute phase

During a bout of acute laryngitis, the most important thing for your voice is to rest it. My SLP was extremely clear about this point.

She recommended complete vocal rest – no talking at all. For at least a week.

I was honest with her; it’s just not possible for me to step out of my busy life for a week and not talk to anyone.

So, she recommended being silent outside of work, taking frequent breaks from talking at work, and to get one of those headsets that attach to a speaker that hangs around your neck to talk to patients who are hard of hearing.

(Ok, so I didn’t buy the personal microphone/speaker thing because I just didn’t want to explain it to each and every colleague and patient. But I completed the rest of her suggestions, and it’s helped a lot.)

4. Use vocal hygiene

During an acute bout of laryngitis, and ideally as a lifelong habit, she recommended vocal hygiene. Benefits of good vocal hygiene are to help the voice recover and hopefully prevent future vocal problems.

Good vocal hygiene includes some of the following daily habits:

• Staying hydrated all day

• Voice rest for 10 minutes every hour

• Don’t clear your throat

• Avoid screaming and whispering

• Use belly breathing when vocalizing to reduce throat tension

If you or your patients struggle with a hoarse voice, I highly recommend SLP. I learned lifelong habits and valuable management strategies that have already paid off.

Stay well friends,

Dr. Kuhnow