top of page

SLP Services for Voice Therapy

SLPs can help with:​

​

​

  • Abnormal loudness

  • Loss of voice

  • Weak voice

  • Hoarse/rough voice

  • Abnormal pitch

  • Running out of breath quickly

  • Increased vocal effort 

  • Excessive throat tension/tenderness

  • Chronic cough affecting your voice

mOQubflrwT.jpg

A voice disorder occurs when voice quality, pitch, and loudness differ or are inappropriate for an individual's age, gender, or cultural background

​

Contact Andrea Lau at Speech Vancouver if you have any concerns regarding your voice. Andrea can provide assessment and therapy services in the comfort of your home in Vancouver and surrounding regions including: Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, North Vancouver, and West Vancouver, Surrey. 

 

to continue reading about other services offered.

Andrea's Ad​ditional Training and Qualifications for Voice Therapy:

Certified in the evidence-based 'Lee Silverman Voice Therapy' (LSVT) for voice disorders associated with Parkinson's Disease and other neurological conditions. Research has shown that LSVT is also able to help adults with speech issues arising from stroke or multiple sclerosis and children with cerebral palsy or Down syndrome.

What happened to my voice?

 

You have probably had problems with your voice at some time. Maybe you had a cold and "lost" your voice. Maybe you cheered too much for your favorite team and had a hoarse voice for a few days after. Some voice problems last for a short time while others may last longer.

​

Normal voice production depends on power and airflow supplied by the (1) respiratory system; (2) laryngeal muscle strength, balance, and stamina; and (3) coordination with resonance structures such as the pharynx, mouth, and nose. A disturbance in any one of these three subsystems of voice production may lead to a voice disturbance. Disruptions can be due to organic, functional, and/or psychogenic causes.

​

  • Organic causes can be either Structural (e.g., vocal fold abnormalities; inflammation; trauma) or Neurologic (e.g., nerve paralysis; Spasmodic Dysphonia, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis). ​

  • Functional causes (e.g., voice overuse/yelling, excessive throat-clearing; Muscle Tension Dysphonia)​. 

  • Psychogenic causes (e.g., Chronic stress disorders; Anxiety; Depression).

​

How can a Speech-Language Pathologist help? 

​

Andrea is well-trained to evaluate voice use and vocal function in order to determine the cause of reported symptoms and to determine optimal treatment methods for improving voice production.

​

SLPs can help with: 

  • Providing prevention information to individuals at risk for voice disorders.

  • Identifying normal and abnormal vocal function, describe perceptual qualities of voice, and assess vocal habits.

  • Diagnosing a voice disorder.

  • Referring individuals to other professionals as needed to obtain a medical diagnosis or when surgical treatment is indicated.

  • Providing treatment, counselling patients, and providing education aimed at managing complications from voice disorders.

​

Contact Andrea Lau at Speech Vancouver if you have any concerns regarding your voice.  

 

For more information on how Speech Vancouver can help, please phone 604 723 9589 or email: andrealau.slp@gmail.com

bottom of page