When is it important for speech-language pathologists to refer a person for voice therapy?


Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are usually the first individuals to notice problems in a person's speech. It is very important for SLPs to refer a person for voice therapy if they suspect a voice dysfunction. The person with a hoarse voice may be abusing his or her phonatory mechanism. For example, individuals may become hoarse if they spend excessive time in noisy environments, where they must speak loudly to be heard. Also, the person could be developing vocal nodules or even early laryngeal cancer.

The person who has an increasingly weak voice or must exert a great deal of effort to speak should be referred to a neurologist. For instance, myasthenia gravis (a myoneural disease) is characterized by progressive weakness of phonation, progressive loss of the ability to articulate, and worsening hypernasality. This condition can be treated. Often the SLP is the first person to recognize myasthenia gravis and refers the individual to a health care specialist.

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