Vocal Abuse is the term used to describe the abrupt and vigorous adduction (closure) of the vocal folds leading to hyper function of the laryngeal muscles. This basically translates to "bashing your vocal cords together"! If these behaviours are repeated frequently this can result in vocal fold surface issues, strain and maladaptive behaviours such as […]

Brace yourselves - This is a long one: reading time 10 minutes (give or take). As an ENT Speech Therapist I come across medically unexplained conditions on a daily basis. Of course this usually applies to voice or globus, but over the past couple of years I have had more and more referrals for patients who have a 'normal swallow' but report an inability to eat or discomfort when […]

Many people might think “voice therapist, vocal coach - potaTO, PoTATo” but actually there are several differences between the two and often you need them both simultaneously. This quick read will hopefully give you an insight into how each one works.  1)      Firstly Voice Specialist Speech Therapists are health care professionals and have usually worked within […]

It’s late October, the clocks have just ‘fallen’ back, the ever darkening evenings are looming and flu season is well and truly upon us. Every year summer lures us in to a false sense of security around keeping our voice optimal (except of course those of us who suffer from allergies) and then before we […]