Services
Voice Rehabilitation and Optimization
Most voice problems respond very well to voice therapy. In fact, voice therapy is often the first line approach to many voice disorders. If you are having trouble with your voice (losing your voice, hoarse voice, pain with talking, etc) a voice therapist can help. People require voice therapy for a variety of reasons or diagnoses. Others may not have a problem, per se, but want to learn to use their voice to its fullest potential and prevent vocal injury. Whatever your voice goals, I can help.
* In most cases, you should be seen by an ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) Specialist before starting voice therapy. Visualization of the vocal cords/larynx is necessary in order to provide appropriate therapy and also rule out underlying disease/identify the cause of your voice problem. Please contact me if you have questions.
Swallowing Therapy
Swallowing is one of those things we take for granted...until it doesn't work. If you've ever experienced a problem with your swallowing you know what an immense impact it has on your life. Dysphagia (the technical term for difficulty swallowing) is usually the result of an underlying medical condition. In many cases, swallowing problems are reversible, or at least improvable. Though some swallowing problems are here to stay, with guidance and counselling from an experienced SLP you can learn to accept and overcome your swallow problem to keep you enjoying all other wonderful aspects of your life.
Upper Airway Dysfunction
A problem by many names...Whatever you call it - chronic cough, irritable larynx, vocal cord dysfunction, inducible laryngeal obstruction, laryngeal/cough hypersensitivity - feeling like you don't have control over your airway can be both terrifying and infuriating. Speech-Language Pathologists with specific training and experience in treating these problems can help you to regain control of your airway through evidence-based therapy techniques. You may be an athlete struck by a sudden inability to breathe during training, or you may be off work because you can't get through a day without severe coughing episodes. After you've seen an ENT and ruled out other possible contributors - I can help.
Manual Therapy / Massage for voice and swallowing disorders
Manual therapy (formerly myofascial release) applies gentle, sustained pressures and stretch to affected areas to help release tension, and is thought to impact and reorganize the central nervous system. Manual therapy is appropriate for a wide range of voice and swallowing disorders.
Head and Neck Cancer Rehabilitation
The road after head and neck cancer is bumpy, at best. Surgery and radiation can have devastating effects on voice, speech, and swallowing and research shows that the sooner you start to rehabilitate the swallow, the better. Evidence suggests manual therapy/massage and exercise can help prevent fibrosis of irradiated tissue and lead to better outcomes. Trismus (jaw stiffness) can also respond to therapy.