Recognizing when your student needs a Medical Professional

Weekly Teaching Tip – Sep. 16, 2013

Changes in the voice mean something…..but what??
Don’t guess

Misdiagnosis of voice problems is common.
Patients/students may be sent to us with the wrong diagnosis
Patients /Students may be sent to us from other singing teachers with the wrong idea of what is causing the problem

Misdiagnoses include:

Nodules- may really be an early vocal fold cancer
Nodules –may be a granuloma
Nodules –may be a congenital cyst (usually requires surgery)
Hoarseness- may be nodules or cyst or polyp
Loss of range may be lack of technique OR nodules, hemorrhage, paralysis, bowing
Reflux- may be granuloma, paralysis, granuloma, candida
Vocal Fatigue-may be early atrophy or vocal fold bowing
Pitch breaks may be technique OR lesion, paralysis, reflux, laryngitis, allergies

What will the singing teachers hear in Common Voice Problems

v Speech – rough, hoarse, pressed or tight, can do well if loud, may be breathy

v Singing – pitch breaks, loss of middle range, can’t sing softly

v Speech –varies from no voice to hoarse, low pitch, rough

v Singing – loss of range, pitch breaks, vocal fatigue

v Speech – squeaky voice, loss of control, pain

v Singing – pain, immediate change in singing ability

v Speech – hoarseness, low gravelly voice

v Singing- loss of range

v Speech – roughness/hoarseness, gravelly

v Singing – change in pitch range

Weakness or lack of good vocal fold contact

v Speech= breathiness, soft voice

v Singing = breathy, weak, can’t sustain tones

v Speech= breathiness, soft volume or two tones

v Singing = dipliphonia (double tone) weak voice

Make sure you send your patients/students to a qualified Voice Care Team

Anna Siciliano, MA CCC/SLP 801-574-0855