Online Voice Therapy for Children

Voice therapy is often the first treatment doctors recommend for children with chronic hoarseness—which can be caused by a bump or bruise on the edges of the vocal folds.

 

 Connected Speech Pathology’s team of licensed speech-language pathologists has the experience in providing you with the voice therapy that you need.

a cute school aged boy eats lunch with friends

Hoarseness (Dysphonia)

Bumps on the edges of the vocal folds are also known as vocal fold nodules can cause hoarseness. It can also be caused by other types of bumps or bruises, called vocal fold cysts or polyps. Vocal fold paralysis can cause hoarseness due to damaged nerves in the larynx or voice box. 

 

Voice therapy is also used after surgery to treat voice disorders.

If nodules on the vocal folds have caused chronic hoarseness, voice therapy may be the only treatment needed, however, sometimes doctors may recommend voice therapy after surgery to remove vocal fold cysts or polyps. Voice therapy reduces hoarseness by improving the quality of voice, effort, pitch range, or loudness.

Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD)

VCD, also known as paradoxical vocal fold motion dysfunction (PVFMD), occurs when the vocal folds close during breathing when they should be in an open position. This obstructive pattern can make it hard to breathe.

 

How can I tell if my child would benefit from therapy for Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD)?

 
 

VCD is often misdiagnosed as asthma. VCD is diagnosed by an otolaryngologist or an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT).

Some symptoms of VCD include:

  • Wheezing

  • Cough

  • A feeling of tightness in the throat

  • Hoarseness and voice change

  • Stridor

  • Shortness of breath

  • Trouble breathing in

Our speech-language pathologists can work with an individual who has VCD to improve the symptoms of VCD. Treatment for VCD focuses on a combination of relaxation techniques, vocal hygiene, and breathing exercises. 

Online Evaluations & Treatment From the Comfort of Your Home

THOROUGH ASSESSMENT

After the child is examined by an ENT and voice therapy is recommended, schedule your free consultation to discuss your situation and learn about how we can help. We will listen carefully to your child’s pitch, loudness, and vocal quality and carefully assess their breath support. We will find out what risky vocal patterns your child may be engaging in. We will use this as information in our treatment sessions.

CUSTOMIZED GOAL & PLAN

Connected Speech Pathology’s voice therapists are trained to provide the best therapy methods to treat hoarseness and VCD. All of our voice therapists have a good understanding of the research of various voice therapy techniques. Since each child is different and will respond differently to therapy methods, we will create a treatment program tailor-made for your child’s needs.

EFFECTIVE TREATMENT

Our voice therapists will offer your child various exercises to shift vocal patterns and reduce the risk of further vocal cord injury. With VCD and hoarseness, the first step will be to allow your child to explore ways to relax the face, neck, and shoulders muscles. Then, the therapist will show your child the best strategies that they can use to improve the problem and how to practice them on a routine basis. A child will typically meet with the voice therapist once a week for up to eight sessions.

 
  • Our assessment may consist of reviewing medical history, clinical observation, and an interview with caregivers. During the assessment, we’ll record your child’s voice as they read some words, sentences, and paragraphs of text. We will use our state-of-the-art vocal analysis instrumentation to analyze your child’s pitch, loudness, and vocal quality and recommend a voice therapy program based on each child's personal needs and goals.

  • Your treatment goals will be set by your speech-language pathologist to create meaningful outcomes that achieve real-life improvement. 

    Since each client is unique and will respond to different therapy methods, we will create a treatment program tailor-made for your needs. We will choose the right therapy technique for each individual and adapt therapy when they do or do not respond to a specific plan.

  • Our speech therapists at Connected Speech Pathology hold master’s degrees in communication sciences and have completed rigorous post-graduate training to provide the best therapy methods available. Our nationally certified team of speech-language pathologists are experts in VCD and have a strong understanding of the research on various VCD therapy techniques.

  • That’s a common question. We will strive to make every therapy session feel productive. The trajectory of speech therapy interventions is different for each person, and there is no exact amount of time that applies to everyone.

Fees start at $75 per session, depending on each meeting’s length in 30, 45, or 60-minute increments. We are a private pay practice and do not accept insurance.

a happy day and his cute son look at a laptop screen together

How do we meet?

Simple—we’ll meet online via our secure telehealth platform.

All that is needed to participate in online voice therapy is a computer or tablet and an internet connection. Our private video conferencing platform is free and easy to download. You will see your speech-language pathologist on the screen. The materials used for voice therapy are web-based, and at the click of a button, shared electronically with you right on your computer screen.

Some of the benefits of using online speech therapy:

  • The proximity of the camera to the mouth for modeling techniques

  • Receiving voice therapy from home eliminates transportation concerns and travel time

  • It removes the hassle of going to in-person appointments and improves attendance

  • It helps those who live in rural areas get the communication treatment they need

  • Allows for straightforward generalization of goals into everyday life

How To Get Started: