Why is Muscle Tension Dysphonia happening to me? This is a very common question my clients
ask me all the time, so in the next five minutes, I’ll tell you how I answer this question but more
importantly, I’ll tell you what not to do when dealing with muscle tension-related voice issues.
My name is Katarina, I am the founder of Vocal Freedom System for the Speaking Voice,
where I help people reduce tension, strain or even
pain when speaking and get them back to speaking with a strong voice that lasts.
And in this video, I want you to understand how Muscle Tension Dysphonia develops.
Because if we understand that, then we will also understand the steps that we
need to take to lessen tension and things that will not help.
Muscle tension dysphonia is a specific diagnosis that basically means that there is excessive
muscle engagement or contraction or muscle work when we use our voice,
which can lead to voice changes or a feeling of discomfort or even pain when speaking.
In real life, this can mean a voice that sounds rough, hoarse, or breathy. Some people may feel
a squeezing inside the throat, or a lump, others feel pain or lose their voice completely after
5 minutes of talking. Other people feel their voice getting tired and weak as the day goes by.
What all of these people have in common is that the vocal function is altered.
To be absolutely honest, science does not have all the answers but we know that
there are usually several factors coming together. It’s like the perfect storm.
Excessive muscle tension can start with a very common trigger that many of us experience,
like a common cold, flu or covid, or acid reflux, excessive demand placed on the voice,
chronic illnesses, allergies, anxiety, stress or even emotional trauma.
During this initial phase, when one or more of these triggers are present,
a person continues to use their voice. They have to exert more vocal effort in order to
produce a clear voice. They continue talking through sickness or discomfort, or they may use
more breath pressure to speak clearly. And over time, this new way of talking becomes a habit,
even though the initial trigger is long gone. Because it is a gradual process,
people notice voice changes only once the new motor patterns are well ingrained.
Now that we understand that the problem is in the altered function of the voice, it is clear
that vocal rest alone, drinking water or steaming is not the answer to getting rid of the tension.
Re-training motor patterns is what needs to be done in order to find more ease when speaking.
And usually, there is no one quick fix, one simple exercise, like straw exercises (even though I love
them) but an array of tools to address different factors adding to the tension is required.
So, if you want to see my blueprint of how I help people with tension-related issues,
click this link or the link below this video to get your copy and watch a video
that explains it. It’s a whole system and I am happy to share it with you.
If you found this video helpful, click the like button and subscribe to my channel to stay in
touch. Check out my other videos right here below. I hope to see you soon. Bye.