Everyone loses their voice from time to time, maybe after cheering loudly for a favorite team or when you have a cold. Frequent misuse of the voice from behaviors such as yelling, imitating character voices, coughing, frequent throat clearing and singing can lead to red, swollen vocal folds. When the vocal folds stretch too far or rub together, they may form calluses called vocal nodules. If you notice that your child's voice often sounds hoarse, raspy, rough or breathy, then they may need to be checked by an ENT. If the ENT findings show that the vocal folds are inflamed or calluses have formed, they will refer your child for evaluation by a speech-language pathologist. Speech therapy will teach your child how to take care of their voice (vocal hygiene) as well as learn good vocal behaviors. The following list provides suggestions on how you can help your child protect their voice:
- Avoid caffeinated beverages and drink lots of fluids (water).
- Learn how to use an indoor speaking voice.
- Going into the room of the person you want to talk to instead of yelling to the next room.
- Turning down the TV or radio before talking to someone.
- Waiting until it's your turn to talk.
- Giving your child time to do quiet activities (drawing, puzzles) to rest their voice.
- Identifying and treating any medical conditions such as reflux or allergies.
If you have concerns about your child's voice, a speech therapist is trained to identify and treat voice disorders. Vocal abuse and misuse are the most frequent causes of voice disorders in children.
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