The human voice is a complex instrument that relies on the fine coordination of many subsystems. Although it is generally robust, professional voice users and those who use their voice for work have a higher risk of encountering vocal injury.1
Professional voice users are highly skilled at sensing changes in their voice function, but these can be difficult to diagnose using traditional clinical approaches.2 Unpredicted changes in how the voice usually feels may signal potential vocal health issues that could lead to more severe problems if not addressed early. Some symptoms may include, for example:
If you experience any of these symptoms and would like to restore healthy and efficient function to your voice, VoCare Consulting can help.
A vocologist is described as a voice specialist who can 'fill the gap in care left when a professional voice user transitions from being under the exclusive care of an SLP [SLT] to being under the tutelage of his or her [or their] voice coach/teacher... Vocologists will educated their clients about voice health, provided preventative voice health care, use acoustic and perceptual voice analysis, and teach/re-teach performance techniques' (p. 7).3
Functional voice rehabilitation primarily aims to return vocal function to a healthy, effective, and sustainable baseline. No aesthetic ideals or specific teaching schools are promoted during voice function sessions. Instead, sessions focus on foundational elements of voice production, e.g., breathing and breath management, freedom, flexibility, and efficiency in the vocal mechanism, and balancing resonances. This means that irrespective of style or genre, clients will learn to maintain a 'healthy neutral' from which they can cultivate their artistry, regain confidence in their speaking voice, and return to performance and work with confidence.
Dr Baker runs a voice clinic in Auckland Central specialising in voice habilitation for professional and occupational voice users. The clinic runs in association with a multidisciplinary allied health team that can offer a comprehensive range of treatment and support. Although specialising in singing-voice habilitation, we work with clients of all voice backgrounds to help them find more flexibility, freedom, and efficiency in voice use.
Throughout the sessions, Dr Baker collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to ensure that clients' voices are on the right track, are adhering to laryngologist and SLT recommendations, and that progress is aligned with treatment goals. Full reports are provided after each session, which record indicators of any changes in voice function from session to session. Clients are usually referred by their laryngologist or SLT. If a client has not already been seen by a ENT or laryngologist, Dr Baker may refer clients on to a medical specialist should there be evidence to suggest a voice injury or disorder.
1Phyland, D. J., & Miles, A. (2019). Occupational voice is a work in progress: Active risk management, habilitation and rehabilitation. Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head & Neck Surgery, 27(6), 439–447. https://doi.org/10.1097/MOO.0000000000000584
2Baker, C. P., Purdy, S. C., Rakena, T. O., & Bonnini, S. (2023) It sounds like it feels: Preliminary exploration of an aeroacoustic diagnostic protocol for singers. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(15). 5130. http://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12155130
3National Center for Voice and Speech (NCVS). (2013). NVCS Symposium on Speciality Training in Vocal Health Summary Report. https://ncvs.org/archive/STVH_Summary_Report_2013.pdf
