Major focus area

Speech Therapy -> Voice

Short description

Confidential voice therapy involves the SLP teaching the patient how to lower the volume of the voice while using an easy, breathy voice quality, as if speaking “confidentially” to someone. It is most commonly used as an effective means of significantly reducing the pressure on the vocal folds during phonation for a limited period, after which a patient may return to a more functional volume of speech. This type of voice therapy is indicated following an acute vocal fold injury or as a method of gradually resuming voice use following surgery (Stemple, et al., 2000; Pannbacker, 1998).

Long description

Confidential voice therapy involves the SLP teaching the patient how to lower the volume of the voice while using an easy, breathy voice quality, as if speaking “confidentially” to someone. It is most commonly used as an effective means of significantly reducing the pressure on the vocal folds during phonation for a limited period, after which a patient may return to a more functional volume of speech.

This type of voice therapy is indicated following an acute vocal fold injury or as a method of gradually resuming voice use following surgery. In confidential voice therapy, patients are trained to produce a soft, breathy voice without full vocal fold closure.  It is considered as the First-Line Voice Therapy Regimen During Early Recovery Period. The main goal, in fact, of this technique is to allow patients to speak while vocal fold health improves. The patient should use the confidential voice in all speaking situations. Then, when the vocal folds have healed, other regimens can be used to bring the voice back to its full strength, tone, and color. Whispered voice is not desirable.

Indications: Vocal cord injury, vocal muscle tension. Method: Patients typically use the confidential voice for about two to three weeks; after this period of time, symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and substantial hoarseness should improve, allowing more intense therapeutic regimens to be started (Stemple, et al., 2000; Pannbacker 1998).