Voice therapy service

Patient Information Leaflet

Speech and Language Therapy Department

Introduction

This leaflet is for people who have been referred to a speech and language therapist. It gives information on voice problems and how they are caused, how a speech and language therapist can help and what voice therapy involves.

Why have I been referred to a speech and language therapist?

Following your ear, nose and throat examination, you have been referred to a speech and language therapist (SLT) for advice and possible treatment of your voice problem/throat discomfort.

What kinds of voice problems are there?

Some people may experience problems with:

• The quality of their voice, for example, due to everyday wear and tear of the voice and/or lesions on the voice box such as nodules, polyps or cysts.
• Complete voice loss.
• The volume or strength of their voice.
• Throat discomfort, for example, the feeling of a lump in the throat.
• Straining or struggling to produce the voice.
• The voice getting tired.

These difficulties can have either physical and/or emotional causes.

What can cause a voice problem/throat discomfort?

There are a number of things that can lead to such problems:

• Drinking a lot of caffeine (tea, coffee, coke) or alcohol.
• Straining your voice (shouting, singing, whispering).
• Over-use or incorrect use of your voice.
• Some health factors such as asthma, allergies, acid reflux/indigestion. If you have these conditions, it is a good idea to see your GP as they may be able to give you medication to help to manage them more effectively.
• Stress, tension, anxiety, upset.
• Coughing and throat clearing.
• Heartburn, indigestion.

How can an SLT help?

After assessing the symptoms and history of your voice problem, the SLT will be able to discuss with you the probable causes and will recommend a course of treatment, if appropriate.

Treatment may include:

• Explanation of how the voice is produced.
• Advice on looking after your voice.
• Techniques to achieve the best voice production that you can.

What does voice therapy involve?

An SLT will send you an appointment for an initial assessment.  This appointment will take up to one hour.

You will have the opportunity to discuss:

• Treatment methods.
• How often you will need to attend.
• How long treatment might take. This will depend on the severity and type of voice problem.

The SLT will also give you a programme of exercises to do at home.

For treatment to be effective, it is important that you attend all your appointments and follow your exercise programme.

If you have any questions, or if there is anything you do not understand, please contact the Russells Hall Hospital switchboard number on 01384 456111 and ask for the relevant department who issued this leaflet.

If you have any feedback on this patient information leaflet please email dgft.patient.information@nhs.net

This leaflet can be made available in large print, audio version and in other languages, please call 0800 073 0510.

Originator: Jane Patrick. Date originated: September 2017. Date reviewed: March 2026. Next review due: April 2029. Version: 4. DGH ref: DGH/PIL/01402.