Voice disorders can result from a variety of medical causes, including vocal nodules and other vocal cord lesions or muscle tension. Our specialists first consult with you and your otolaryngologist (i.e., ENT) about your specific symptoms and medical history. You will then receive a comprehensive assessment that examines breathing, voicing, and speech habits that may be contributing to your voice difficulties. This examination addresses all aspects of your speaking voice and allows your clinician to optimize an individualized plan of care for your specific speaking and/or singing needs.  This plan of care is approved by you and your physician before moving forward and is perfect for voiceover actors, singers, and professional voice users, such as attorneys, executives, and teachers. Treatment usually requires at least 2-4 sessions, though some individuals prefer or benefit from additional sessions.

For information about Voice Disorders, we recommend this publication from The American Speech-Language Hearing Association: “The Behavioral Voice-Lift”.

Age-related voice changes are not uncommon. Underlying medical causes could be causing these changes and can be helped by therapy. Our therapists can help you regain and retain functionality by using the principles of exercise physiology, motor learning and neuroplasticity in your therapy. Your voice therapy, like all therapy plans offered at Open Lines, is customized for your needs and is ultimately, approved by you.

At Open Lines, we also offer evaluation, counseling and voice therapy services to patients either in treatment or following treatment for head and neck cancer. We develop individualized treatment plans to minimize the negative effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Our Executive Director worked and conducted research for several years at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Please see your physician before beginning treatment, to have a video stroboscopic assessment performed prior to your evaluation.

 

If you would like more information regarding Swallowing Problems (Dysphagia) after head and neck cancer, visit the American Speech-Language Hearing Association website.

Voice is one of the primary hallmarks of gender. In most cases, a person can determine another person’s gender simply by hearing them speak. Because male and female voices have different fundamental frequency ranges, no gender transition is complete without addressing changes in voicing.

Open Lines offers specialized voice therapy for transgender individuals. Unlike a voice coach, a licensed Speech Language Pathologist has vital medical knowledge about how the vocal folds function and has mastered clinical skills unavailable to a mere voice coach. Our clinical expertise allows for outstanding results in voice transition.

Whether you are just beginning your transition or completed your transition long ago, we can help you complete your voice transition without drugs or surgery. For members of the transgender community who are not ready to make a full transition, we can help train you to alter your voice at will.

Our transgender voice therapy program is customized to each individual and utilizes evidence-based therapy practices to achieve exceptional results in a relatively short timeframe.

LSVT LOUD® is a clinically effective means of improving vocal quality, loudness level and overall communication in people with Parkinson’s disease and other neurogenic speech disorders such as Cerebral Palsy and speech disorders following a stroke. The Open Lines LSVT LOUD® program is overseen by one of eight certified trainers of Speech Pathologists in the world in the Lee Silverman Voice Therapy method.

The program begins with a one-on-one comprehensive speech-motor and voice evaluations. Each participant then attends 16, highly structured program sessions over a single month (1 hour per day, 4 days per week). Goals and objectives are individualized to each participant’s needs.

Don’t put your life on hold because of any vocal disorder. For more information about the various voice therapies we offer, please call us at 212-430-6800 or email today.