Voice
What is it?
Your voice is the sound that is made when your vocal cords vibrate. These are found in your larynx – also known as your voice box. Voice is extremely important as it is unique to each individual person and is fundamental to communication because without it we simply can’t be heard.
The length of the vocal fold at birth is approximately six to eight millimetres and grows to its adult length of eight to sixteen millimetres by adolescence. Every time a child talks, shouts, laughs, coughs and makes other noises their vocal cords vibrate - about 300 times a second. If the vibration is forced or strained then the vocal cords can become sore or red, and the sound of the voice may change. Many voice disorders in children are associated with symptoms of hoarseness, huskiness, breathiness or sometimes complete loss of voice.
There are many different causes, including how children use their voice, lifestyle factors, medical factors and many more.
Speech and language therapists (SLTs) have an important role to play in assessing, treating, managing and preventing children’s voice disorders. In many cases, voice therapy delivered by an SLT can help to improve or eliminate a voice problem.
SLTs work closely with Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Doctors, GPs and other professionals to help improve children’s voice disorders.
What to look for.
If your child has a voice disorder, their voice may sound:
· Croaky
· Hoarse
· Strained
· Breathy
· Weak
· Too high or too low
· Too loud or too quiet
Children with voice disorders often have voices that tire easily or they have difficulty projecting their voice, and they may complain of a sore throat.
Poor voice may make it hard for your child to communicate effectively and may affect their self-confidence.
Top tips.
Top tips to support a child or young person with a voice disorder.
First of all, take your child to your GP to discuss the voice problem. They will be able to refer your child to the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) doctors and to a specialist speech and language therapist.
Helpful Advice – (Adapted from Great Ormond Street’s Encouraging your child to produce a healthy voice):
The most helpful thing you can do as a parent is to provide a good role model for healthy voice use. Wherever possible try to make the recommended changes together as a family. This will make it easier for your child to understand what is expected and to see the advice as supportive rather than punishing. You may also wish to discuss the advice with your child’s teachers.
Reducing the strain and damage to your child’s voice box:
· Avoid shouting and loud voice.
· Encourage your child to not use strange throat noises and not to imitate characters with unhealthy voices.
· Avoid coughing and throat-clearing.
· Avoid long conversations or other prolonged voice use.
· Encourage quiet play activities.
· Avoid whispering.
Keeping the voice box protected with healthy mucus:
· Drink lots of water.
· Avoid coke, tea, coffee and some energy drinks.
· Be aware that certain medicines can encourage drying and dehydration.
· Keep the air in the home healthy – Central heating and closed window encourage dehydration. You can combat this by placing small bowls of water or damp towels on radiators so that the moisture is carried into the air you breathe. You can buy small humidifiers to put in rooms where your child spends a lot of time.
Links and leaflets
The British Voice Association has various helpful resources on their website at: The British Voice Association
Link to the iThrive document which gives an overview to clinical staff, local authorities, parent & carer groups, third sector and voluntary organisations, schools, nurseries and parent & carers of current support, signposting, services and treatment available to children and young people, up to 13 years, with voice disorders, across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.