Resonant Voice Therapy (RVT) helps individuals improve their daily communication by using strong, clear and resonant voices. Speech-language pathologists customize this form of treatment specifically to each person’s unique needs and goals.
RVT is founded on the idea that oral vibratory sensations (i.e. buzz) during effortless phonation are integral to maintaining vocal health and quality. To this end, this program includes breathing exercises, humming exercises and soft onset phonation techniques for soft-onset phonation techniques.
Basic Exercises
Vocal folds are the primary source of sound when speaking and singing, causing vibrations which shape airflow and sound of voice, impacting its quality and power. If a person experiences voice disorder they may find difficulty hitting certain notes or maintaining pitch; to assist these individuals a speech-language pathologist can teach exercises which promote forward resonance, optimize vocal quality and reduce strain on vocal folds to help strengthen, clearer and more natural voices.
Resonant Voice Therapy (RVT) is an evidence-based approach that teaches individuals how to produce voice more forwardly and with minimum impact and effort on vocal folds, in order to reduce risks of injury and ensure strong, clean voice production. The goal is for RVT practitioners to teach individuals the strongest, cleanest voice possible with minimal force on vocal folds resulting in maximum strength, cleanliness, and reduced risk of vocal cord rupture or injury.
RVT (Receptor-Vocal Training) is an approach to voice treatment that utilizes oral sensations and easy phonation that builds from basic training gestures to conversational speech. RVT has proven itself effective for treating Parkinson’s disease, stroke and cancer patients among many others.
RVT (repetition voice technique) is a structured and repetitive practice aimed at making voice techniques naturalized over time. To maximize effectiveness of this approach, working with an RVT specialist who is certified allows them to teach you all necessary techniques while assuring effectiveness of each one.
Forward resonance voice therapy comprises of four basic elements: vocal placement, breathing exercises, resonant humming and gentle onset techniques. Vocal placement exercises help people identify resonant spaces in their face and head that improve overall voice quality; deep diaphragmatic breathing to support vocal folds while relieving stress; Resonant humming to generate vibrations within facial structures such as sinuses while gentle onset techniques emphasize starting phonation with gradual and smooth movements in order to minimize forceful pressure on vocal folds; while finally starting phonation using gradual movements in order to minimize forceful strain and strain on vocal folds.
There are also resonant voice therapy techniques that incorporate different techniques, including Smith Accent Technique, Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD and Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST). Each approach can be tailored specifically for certain populations with particular needs and applied by licensed SLPs who have received adequate training.
Consonant Sounds
Resonant voice therapy uses natural resonances within your vocal tract – comprising chambers like your mouth and throat – to produce strong, powerful and effortless vocal production. Speech-language pathologists can guide you in harnessing these resonances for successful use; whether you’re an accomplished singer looking to expand their vocal range and power or someone simply hoping to manage hoarseness and strain in their voices, using resonance voice therapy can be your secret weapon!
Forward resonance voice therapy‘s unique component lies in its focus on vibration sensations in the hard palate, alveolar ridge and nasal septum – commonly referred to as the Y-Buzz technique – designed to increase awareness of voice production while simultaneously encouraging holistic approaches towards creating powerful yet versatile voices with efficient power and flexibility.
Key to Y-Buzz’s approach is its use of open-ended questions to facilitate exploration and self-reflection. Your SLP could begin by asking, for instance: “Where do you feel your voice?” Most individuals can easily answer this question; but for those struggling to pinpoint theirs, give them an outline for understanding how they experience their voice.
Michie et al. (2013) has successfully used a modified Delphi procedure to collect voice disorder treatment taxonomies (Michie et al.). Ten voice experts were selected, including both clinical researchers and frontline clinicians as members of an assessment panel. Each round involved a questionnaire designed uniformly structure to reduce individual rater bias; regular feedback on process was provided throughout. External readers were also brought in for assistance in synthesizing and reporting results as an additional step to decrease individual rater bias.
Not all voice therapists provide opportunities for practicing different pitches or loudness levels when practicing Y-Buzz protocols. While such exercises can help therapists target various therapeutic goals – like decreasing habitual pitch, increasing vocal volume or improving quality for those living with conditions like puberphonia or Parkinson’s disease – not all do. These exercises should not be forgotten!
Vocal Tract Exercises
Resonant voice therapy emphasizes vibration of vocal folds to decrease impact force and improve clarity, thus helping prevent or treat problems such as nodules and polyps which form on vocal cords due to misuse or overuse of voice, as well as decrease strain from phonation resulting from overuse, which could otherwise contribute to recurrent laryngitis.
Step one in resonant voice therapy begins with an extensive evaluation of your voice, which includes both physical examination and evaluation of vocal folds. Your SLP will develop a tailored therapy plan designed specifically to your goals and concerns – this may include exercises designed to increase vocal quality while simultaneously increasing overall resonant production.
Vocal tract exercises involve partially occluding the vocal tract to create backpressure to assist with vibratory control of vocal folds during voicing, such as lip trills and tongue trills, humming, cup phonation and straw phonation. These techniques promote better vocal posture and coordination between muscles involved in sound production as well as reduce impact force between vocal folds which may prevent or speed healing post injury or surgery while helping maintain healthy resonant voice production.
A study published in “Journal of Voice and Speech” examined the impact of differing degrees of occlusion on attainment of Maximum Phonation Time (MPT) goals during VFE exercises. 26 participants were split into three groups. Group one used SOVT posture; Groups two and three performed VFEs using less occlusion around vowels such as /i/ and /a/.
Researchers discovered that reduced occlusion on VFEs performed with populations /i/ and /a/ did not adversely impact MPT results, further supporting the notion that VFE occlusion levels can be modified without impacting efficacy and is consistent with previous research in other populations.
Another study discovered that humming exercises helped to strengthen vocal coordination between the thyroarytenoid (TA) and cricothyroid (CT) muscles of the throat – associated with voice quality and phonation efficiency – through exercises, while simultaneously helping balance airflow and vibration of both vocal folds.
Tongue Exercises
Resonant Voice Therapy (RVT) is an approach that uses resonance to improve vocal quality, reduce strain and enhance overall vocal health. RVT will teach you how to produce a more powerful and clear voice, increasing its impact both personally and professionally.
RVT seeks to increase vibratory sensations in the front of the face and throat, leading to better vocal production, reduced voice fatigue, less risk for nodules and polyps in vocal cords and increased phonatory efficiency (Stemple et al. 2000; Lessac-Madsen RVT 2004).
Clinicians work with their patients to produce resonant sounds that provide oral semi-occlusion. This may involve performing rhythmic voicing exercises like voiced fricatives or nasals with lips closed, as well as non-speech RVT techniques that make use of vocal sighs with different pitch variations for patients to locate oral vibrations in front of throat and exhibit balanced phonatory airflow.
RVT techniques utilize chants to solidify forward voice placement and resonance. Chanting involves repeating simple words or phrases to promote relaxation of forward-placed voices as well as good breath support. Patients may hold vowel sounds such as /ol/ in high pitch range for multiple repetitions in this exercise.
RVT requires a thorough assessment of the voice to ascertain which therapy program will provide maximum benefit to each individual patient. Once complete, an SLP will create a tailored therapy plan designed to reach each goal set forth by the patient – such as improving vocal clarity and reducing vocal fatigue while simultaneously increasing projection or treating any voice disorders that exist.
As these RVT exercises can be done at home, working with a qualified voice therapist is highly recommended to ensure safe and effective practice. Working with a therapist allows the therapist to customize each exercise specifically to each patient, making sure they’re performed efficiently and correctly while also helping identify any underlying issues which could be damaging their vocal tracts.
