When working with a voice patient, beyond ensuring the acquisition of proper vocal technique, it is essential to investigate the environment and working setting, that is, all external factors that can influence voice use.
Each patient, depending on these factors, will need to make laryngeal adjustments, some voluntary and some involuntary, to perform the required vocal work.
These adjustments involve the dimensions, diameters, and positioning of the various structures within the vocal tract.
Modifications are carried out by recruiting adjustments in the tongue's apex or body, opening or closing of the mandible, elevation or lowering of the velum, increasing impact stress, and applying more tension to the intrinsic and extrinsic laryngeal muscles.
All these adjustments, combined with those required by various types of phonation—modal, falsetto, whistle, creaky, etc.—increase the workload, deviating the phonatory expression from optimal ergonomics.
Through the anamnesis collection of these elements, palpatory evaluations, and biomechanical-functional assessments, the osteopath will identify the dysfunctional pattern triggered and initiate corrective work. The patient will then be referred to a speech therapist and/or vocal coach to build more effective engrams.
Valentina Carlile - Osteopath specializing in Osteopathy for Voice and Speech Disorders since 2002. For information and bookings, visit the Contact page.
Comments