Lessac Kinesensic Training emphasizes full body introspection and observation to guide patients in finding their most resonant vocal representation. Different cues such as scan-gel-show-tell are employed to assist the individual in discovering his/her ideal representation.
Clinical evidence and experimental data strongly demonstrate the beneficial effects of LMRVT’s barely ab/adducted laryngeal configuration on decreasing nodules, polyps, reflux symptoms and phonotraumatic injuries in daily life (Verdolini 2000). Furthermore, it allows patients to transition more quickly toward healthier voicing patterns for daily living.
It is a program for hoarse voices
There are a variety of programs that use acoustic feedback to teach patients to speak with forward focus and easy phonations, helping to reduce tension on vocal folds and thus lower nodule formation risk. Not all voice therapies are equal – some programs such as Lessac Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy use the acoustic feedback provided by humming to teach patients how to produce louder, healthier voices through practice with this technique; additionally it includes post-therapy self-care plans as an integral component of its success – this program also incorporates post therapy self-care plans which is essential in successful speech therapy programs.
Katherine Verdolini created Lessac Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy (LMRVT) in the early 2000s as an approach for people suffering with hoarse voices, named in honor of Arthur Lessac and Mark Madsen for their contributions to resonant voice theory and motor learning. LMRVT provides a step-by-step program designed specifically for hoarseness that has proven itself successful at improving not only vocal health, but overall physical wellness as well.
This program relies on the acoustic feedback from humming exercises to increase vocal efficiency and economy by changing their positions. VFE exercises cause the Thyroarytenoid muscle to become more active while Cricothyroid remains inactive, allowing top edges of vocal folds to move further up than bottom edges during phonation without colliding during phonation; additionally this type of feedback has also been linked with reduced shimmer and irregularity on Hoarseness Diagram, signifying better vocal production.
LMRVT clinicians utilize sensory awareness of resonant voice as the starting point, only using verbal instructions when needed. This approach stems from research which indicates that paying too much attention to how a new behavior should be executed has detrimental effects both immediately and over time.
LMRVT differs from other forms of acoustic feedback by including nonspeech exploratory exercises and speech articulation training to promote resonant voices. This combination of techniques enhances the effectiveness of resonant voice training and makes it easier for patients to adopt new vocal behaviors outside the clinic. Furthermore, LMRVT tends to lead to greater patient compliance than other acoustic feedback approaches. Verdolini’s research indicated that some inspired patients may attempt to incorporate resonant voice into loud speech outside the clinic before having fully mastered it there, potentially leading to high rates of re-injury and an increased prevalence of granulomas (Verdolini-Marston, Burke, Lessac Glaze & Caldwell 1995).
It is a program for strained voices
Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy (LMRVT) is an approach to speech and language pathology designed specifically to treat strained voices. Through LMRVT’s program of instruction on controlling vocal motor movements to achieve a more relaxed tone and reduce nodules or polyps forming on vocal folds, patients learn how to regain the ability to speak freely again without strain or tension, helping regain their ability to speak without strain or tension and also reduces any future instances of polyps forming on vocal fold nodules or polyps forming.
This program employs nonspeech exploratory exercises and speech articulation training to teach patients how to utilize their resonant voices effectively. Unlike many other voice therapy techniques, this method has proven successful at improving acoustic and clinical parameters of normal voices while alleviating symptoms related to overused, stressed voices such as hoarseness or tired sound quality.
LMRVT involves the therapist guiding their client through full-body introspection and observation of body posture, movement and sensations. After this observation phase is complete, scan-gel-show-tell and physical manipulation and demonstration will take place until their client exhibits their ideal representation of resonant voice behavior. Furthermore, LMRVT helps clients integrate this new found voice behavior into everyday conversations using imitation or conversational phrases tailored specifically for them.
Therapists may provide additional strategies for changing voice tone beyond resonant voice training, such as minimizing use, such as keeping phone calls short or avoiding unnecessary or loud speech. Therapists may also encourage patients to practice voice rest for 4-7 days as part of treatment – this means not speaking as often, coughing less, “voiced” sneezing less frequently, crying less frequently or producing any odd sounds or sound effects during this period.
Although resonant voice techniques can be effective at decreasing nodule formation and improving vocal function, it is crucial that patients do not attempt to apply these skills prematurely to loud speech. A study led by Verdolini demonstrated how inspired patients may try applying these skills too soon in loud speech context, potentially increasing rates of re-injury as well as risk for new granulomas (Verdolini-Marston, Burke Lessac Glaze & Caldwell 1995).
A therapist will develop an individual post-therapy program tailored specifically to each patient’s lifestyle and needs, including hygiene principles that apply directly to them rather than general lists of do’s and don’ts. Furthermore, the therapist will emphasize practicing resonant voice regularly at home, reinforcing all aspects of its program.
It is a program for croaky voices
Lessac Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy is an evidence-based program that is proven to improve croaky voices by improving quality, decreasing effort, and increasing pitch stability. Multiple research studies have documented its use as an effective treatment for various vocal disorders; especially for treating aphonia, dysarthria, and lisp; it may also be effective against glottal nodules or polyps; its success is grounded in its belief that vocal folds may have become inefficient over time and need retraining in order to produce louder voices.
Vocal Straw Exercises or Vocal Cord Acoustic Resistance (VCRA) are an integral part of Lessac Madsen’s approach to treating voice disorders. By speaking or singing into a partially blocked-off straw that creates backpressure to unload vocal cords and enhance vibration efficiency, these exercises help deepen and expand voices with less strain while simultaneously decreasing phonatory efforts and improving overall vocal endurance in healthy individuals.
Many approaches to voice therapy incorporate semi-occluded exercises, including Lessac Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy (LMRVT) and tube phonation, but there remains debate as to whether these activities represent nonspeech explorations or speech articulation training. Furthermore, theoretical perspectives may influence opinions regarding motor learning potential as well as communication carryover potential of semi-occluded exercises.
Recent research found that humming helps patients suffering from muscle tension dysphonia reduce supraglottic hyperfunction by slowing vocal fold adduction during prephonatory adjustment phase and relieving transient laryngeal closures, as well as providing higher minimal angles with less steep slopes of their glottal area waveform waveform than phonatory support and lessening severity of vocal fold adduction during phonatory maneuvers.
Resonant Voice Therapy seeks to help its patients attain the ideal posture that multiple studies have demonstrated will produce maximum vocal intensity with minimum phonotraumatic damage (Verdolini 2000). Functional goals such as speaking clearly and loudly as well as medical benefits like reduced nodules and polyps are typically realized as byproducts of this biomechanical training.
Katherine Verdonlini Abbott is Professor of Communication Science and Disorders at the University of Delaware. She holds memberships with several associations, such as American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, National Association of Teachers of Singing and Voice and Speech Trainers Association; conducting both basic and applied research into Lessac Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy as a technique. In addition, she produced the Lessac Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy DVD that provides an introduction and demonstration for clinicians certified to use this technique.
It is a program for loud voices
Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy (LMRVT), developed by Katherine Verdolini, combines resonant voice training and motor learning principles into one holistic therapy method that has proven itself effective at improving voice quality and loudness, nodules management, as well as managing other vocal disorders.
This technique involves clinicians leading clients through full body introspection and observation to discover their optimal representation of a healthy, resonant voice through scan-gel-show-tell, physical manipulation and demonstration techniques. Once found, clients are taught to reproduce this sound with minimal effort outside clinic. Eventually this approach teaches patients how to create long, quiet voices by increasing subglottal pressure while decreasing vocal fold tension simultaneously.
LMRVT uses nonspeech exploratory exercises, including humming, to help the vocal folds reposition themselves to reduce tissue collision and increase volume of voice production. These nonspeech exercises serve more than simply as relaxation; they teach patients a new relationship with their voices as well as how best to use it.
One key component of this program is teaching patients how to recognize a healthy, resonant voice. Resonant voices often feel like vibrations on the anterior alveolar ridge and should be easy to phonate; the therapist should guide clients through various vowel sounds while noting when their articulation or voicing is incorrect.
Therapists should teach clients how to incorporate resonant voices into everyday life; using it for speaking, singing and social activities such as laughing or crying. Therapists should encourage clients to practice these new skills in order to enhance daily functioning and emotional regulation.
Researchers found that the effectiveness of resonant voice training depends heavily on patient compliance. Resonant voices only work if individuals incorporate them into everyday life and replicate them at home, so this program aims to assist clients in integrating resonant techniques into existing lifestyles.
