How Parents, SLPs, and Voice Coaches can Help by Teaching Vocal Hygiene

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Maybe you’ve told your kids to wash behind their ears, but have you ever considered their vocal hygiene? Maybe it is time to start, especially if you’re concerned they might have a voice disorder, or dysphonia. While they are some of the rarer forms of vocal and speech problems, voice disorders affect an estimated 1 million children in the United States. Most of these children develop voice disorders due to unhealthy communication practices, such as yelling and straining the vocal cords. While vocal hygiene plays a part in many voice disorders, there are other causes that need to be evaluated by healthcare professionals.

• Laryngitis (the most common type, caused by what some might consider vocal abuse)
• Vocal cord paralysis
• Contact ulcers and sores
• Tumors on the vocal cords, voice box, and within the air passages
• Vocal fold nodules Continue reading →