Voice Specialty Program

Assessments will be completed by speech language pathologists who have experience and training in the area of voice disorders.

This program is designed to evaluate and treat voice disorders in all ages, from children to seniors.

Among the disorders most commonly seen are:

• Neurological disorders (i.e. Parkinson’s, ALS, etc.)
• Vocal cord paralysis
• Hoarseness
• Laryngitis
• Psychogenic voice disorders
• Vocal cord growths (nodules, polyps, cysts)
• Resonance disorders (i.e., cleft palate, dysarthria)
• Tracheostomies
• Head and neck cancer
• Reflux disorders

Indications for referral to the Voice Specialty Program:

• Recurrent or persistent hoarseness
• Vocal strain
• Pain/discomfort in neck and/or throat areas
• Pitch changes
• Decreased volume
• Vocal strain and/or fatigue

Services:

• Voice evaluation and treatment
• Voice recording and analysis
• Vocal performance assessment
• Tracheotomy decannulation evaluation/speaking valve trials
• Evaluation of the aging voice
• Prosthetic management with voice restoration for laryngectomies

Equipment:

• Flexible endoscopy for structural analysis and biofeedback
• Computer software for acoustic analysis and biofeedback
• Educational materials and treatment handouts
• Piano keyboard for pitch matching

“Prior to coming to the Lakeland Voice Clinic, my
voice had become severely strained due to chronic
vocal nodules. I teach small children which requires
me to speak all day long. Little did I know, but I
was actually contributing to my vocal dysfunction
because of the ways in which I was speaking and
using my voice. I was very frustrated with the
sound quality and feeling of my voice. I began to
wonder if my speaking would ever sound “normal”
again, without “frogs” in my throat. Through
the help of my speech/voice therapist, Sue, I have
learned several techniques that have reduced the
strain of/in my voice and allow me to speak with
better clarity and quality.”
— Tamra Strauss

“We have been very fortunate to have the availability
of speech, voice and language services
provided by Susan Riley through Lakeland
Rehabilitation Services. Our daughter Lia was
born with a cleft lip and palate, which was
repaired at the age of three and a half years. At
the age when most children are able to speak in
complete sentences and communicate easily, Lia
was very difficult to understand as she began
learning how to speak with her newly repaired
palate. We enrolled Lia in therapy at lakeland
as soon as the palate repair healed, and she
continued in therapy there for approximately six
months. The therapy addressed areas of speech
and language as well as the resonance and
nasality issues Lia experienced after surgery. The
speech, voice, and language services provided by
Ms. Riley enabled Lia to progress quickly and to
be able to communicate effectively with our family,
at school, and with her friends.”
— Mary Jo Booker

I couldn’t talk at all when I went to therapy,
but the combination of the therapy and surgery
for my vocal cord cysts helped me to speak
clearly again.”
— Linda Ballard