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PEDIATRIC CARE

Hoarseness / Voice Disorders

A voice disorder may be characterized by hoarseness, breathiness, harshness, fatigue with periodic loss of voice, or inappropriate pitch & loudness. Most voice disorders in children result from loud talking, shouting and straining the voice. A compromised voice quality affects the child’s interactions with people around him and the ease to communicate. It further has an impact on his/her confidence. Prompt treatment must begin for children with abnormally hoarse/coarse voice. If the disordered voice persists for long, it may get difficult to go back to original voice.

Common questions about voice disorders

1. My child’s voice becomes better sometimes and worsens at other times. Does he need voice therapy?

Symptoms depend on the type and severity of the vocal pathology. Usually, the quality of voice worsens if it has been abused/misused and gets better when given rest (i.e. quiet/no talking periods). However, if neglected, the underlying cause may severe. It is recommended to consult a qualified audiologist-speech language pathologist to intervene immediately after the problem is detected.

2. Can voice therapy help my child?

Absolutely. Voice problems are usually treated successfully. Voice therapy is frequently the first treatment choice for voice problems in children. Sometimes, medications are also prescribed in conjunction to voice therapy by a physician/ENT specialist, to treat allergies, reflux, or respiratory conditions that may contribute to the voice problem.