Resonant voice therapy focuses on issues impacting resonance. The primary objective is to achieve balanced oral-nasal resonance during effortless voicing.
Improper resonance results in the voice sounding excessively nasal or congested and reduces speech intelligibility, as well as being caused by conditions like cleft palate, enlarged adenoids or neurological diseases.
Nose and Mouth Resonance Points
When speaking, your vocal folds produce sound which travels through your pharynx, oral cavity, and nasal cavities to form your voice quality or resonance. These structures act like filters to determine what you hear – their size and shape affect how your voice sounds to others; such as where your tongue rests or whether or not you open your mouth completely when speaking.
Resonance disorders occur when the process of shaping sound into a pleasing, rich, and full voice is compromised, leading to an overly nasal or congested sound and altering individual consonant sounds. Resonance disorders may stem from various sources, such as cleft palate, enlarged adenoids, neurological issues or even acquired articulation errors learned as children.
Speech pathologists employ various tools and exercises to accurately pinpoint the source of a voice quality issue, and determine its effects. One such device is a Nasometer which measures nasal airflow produced when producing various passages and syllables; its data allows measurement of vertical Focus Resonance (VFR), as well as determination of hyper-nasality, hypo-nasality or mixed nasality.
SLPs may work closely with prosthodontists to design or position surgical solutions such as nasal obturators or velopharyngeal lift. In cases of anatomical resonance disorders, however, this kind of management usually isn’t required.
Breath control and relaxation are essential ingredients of resonance. Proper breathing enables vibrations that become voice, while relaxing your muscles reduces tension and amplifies its effects.
Pharyngeal Resonance Points
Voice resonance can transform communication for professionals and everyday individuals alike, opening doors of confidence in your workplace environment while strengthening personal relationships at home and beyond. Speech-language pathologists specialize in teaching clients to harness their natural vocal resonances from chambers like mouth and throat resonating chambers for maximum vocal range, power, clarity and projection. By relieving strain from vocal folds therapists can facilitate increased vocal range power while simultaneously improving clarity and projection.
Vowel sounds are highly effective at activating pharyngeal resonance. To start, start humming at an adjustable pitch until it feels natural for you; focus on any buzzing sensation on the bridge of your nose and throat as you hum. Next, sing scales using vowels such as “ee” and “ay,” this exercise can access the brightness provided by nasalopharyngeal resonance and enable you to sing higher notes effortlessly while projecting low notes clearly.
While pharyngeal resonance can naturally occur, too much resonance leads to muffled voice with a “throaty” quality. This distortion may occur as a result of VPI (voice phlasia or glottal phasia), as well as due to blockages such as deviated septums, stenotic narrators or scarring from previous cleft palate surgery procedures.
Although sinuses are commonly thought of as resonators, they do not acoustically connect to the pharynx; instead they serve as passive vibration sensors to pick up sound waves created by vocal production and transmitted along the vocal tract. Even so, many singers and teachers routinely include sinus exercises as part of their repertoire.
The sternum can serve as another potential resonator, yet is rarely utilized for singing due to tension issues that hinder good vocal quality. Furthermore, too much tension may result in buzzing sensations that are less desirable when classical singing and more suited towards specific musical forms like chiaro. Your therapist may suggest practicing with closed mouth. Alternatively, they could instruct you how to utilize diaphragm support systems such as breath support to ensure adequate pressure is being applied on pharynx when singing properly articulation occurs.
Chest Resonance Points
Resonance occurs in empty spaces in the body where vibrations are amplified as they travel through the vocal tract, producing sounds. Depending on their size and shape, resonance produces different types of sound: for instance head and nasal resonance produce light yet airy sound while chest resonance gives more of a deep bass tone; in order to produce a healthy voice with both types of resonance working harmoniously together to produce balanced and pleasing tones.
Speech therapists assist their clients in developing techniques for altering resonant characteristics and improving overall voice quality and function. Additionally, speech therapists teach clients how to integrate these strategies with other components of voice production such as articulation and pitch. A transgender client might learn how to adapt their voice for more feminine or masculine tones while maintaining pitch range and articulation range.
SLPs often begin by asking their clients to hum as an initial way of helping them gain an insight into their unique vocal characteristics. Humming engages all aspects of vocal health while helping prepare it for speaking; furthermore, this activity does not place strain on vocal folds or cause discomfort to throat, neck and face areas.
Resonant modification exercises also include breathing techniques designed to promote healthy airflow through the nose, mouth, and throat. Breathing slowly and deeply through the nose before exhaling fully can increase airflow while improving resonance as well. When helping clients with pharyngeal or laryngeal issues, SLPs often employ Velopharyngeal Resistance Treatment (VPRT), an effective technique designed to strengthen the velum muscle while decreasing overshoot resonance levels.
Other strategies for altering resonance include changing tongue position, mouth shape and articulation to achieve the desired resonance characteristics. Some SLPs have used an approach known as Articulation Shaping to help transgender clients produce more feminine or androgynous sounds without compromising articulation accuracy – as well as teaching these desirable resonant properties when speaking in various settings such as work or social interactions. Finally, extra vocal fold (EVF) resistance training can stimulate velum muscle strength while improving articulation accuracy.
Vocal Placement Exercises
Vocal placement exercises aim to enhance the quality of vocal sound by redirecting energy of the voice up towards the mask (the space surrounding mouth and nose), rather than down towards throat or larynx (where most voices tend to focus when singing or speaking). They can be particularly helpful for singers seeking to extend their range or reduce strain while singing or speaking; or speakers looking to project their voices more clearly and effortlessly.
Vocal Resonance Exercises not only increase vocal resonance, but they also aid in breath support and articulation improvement. A skilled speech and language pathologist can assist patients in becoming self-aware through these techniques by helping them feel the sensations related to voice production (such as sound quality and ease of phonation) through lip trills, tongue trills, humming or other simple vocalizations that focus on feeling their resonators for optimal use.
An SLP will observe and assess a client’s vocal production during initial sessions and will ask where they feel the vibrations of their voice, so as to direct treatment in making necessary changes. For instance, if they perceive it more in their throat or larynx rather than mask area, an SLP may work on assessing laryngeal valve positioning or tongue placement as part of their treatment program.
Breathing and tongue movements will also be provided by an SLP in order to enhance their voice quality. A great place to begin diaphragmatic breathing exercises by placing hands on stomach and chest; many can improve volume, quality and effort through these simple exercises. Once they become comfortable with this approach, an SLP may then introduce more complex exercises, including Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Therapy Protocol as well as more complex articulation/phonation exercises designed to create healthy voices.
