Singing and Vocal Therapy
The physiotherapists at the Headache, Neck & Jaw Clinic provide specialist vocal therapy that can improve your speaking and singing to help you recover from injury.
Has Singing Become a Painful Chore?
Singing should be an enjoyable, relaxed production of sound. Unfortunately, you may battle with tension, fatigue, pain or poor voice quality no matter how hard you work on your technique.
If your efforts aren’t translating into singing improvements, the team at the Headache, Neck & Jaw Clinic can provide vocal therapy and help you perform at your best.
Improve Your Speech and Singing With Vocal Therapy
The Headache, Neck & Jaw Clinic provides vocal therapy to resolve injuries and improve your technique and comfort when talking and singing.
We regularly work with professional voice users such as teachers, salespeople, courtroom attorneys, telemarketers, receptionists and others. We also collaborate closely with singers, staff and students from the Queensland Conservatorium to improve singing quality from a vocal pedagogy and musculoskeletal perspective. Vocal therapy is effective in treating common problems like:
- Vocal constriction
- Vocal fatigue
- Changes or limitations in pitch and volume
- Changes in your voice due to stressors
- Nodules, granulomas and polyps
Our vocal therapists can provide temporary relief with soft tissue releases and self-management exercises for immediate performances, but we prefer to address the underlying cause for a long-term fix.
Book an appointment if you experience pain, discomfort or tightness while speaking or singing. Our vocal therapists can address the underlying cause and make sure you’re ready for your next performance!
Vocal Symptoms To Watch Out For
If you notice a change in your vocal quality, or if you develop pain and discomfort while talking or singing, it’s time to seek vocal therapy. Watch out for changes in:
- Vocal quality
- Pitch (habitual range)
- Volume (habitual range)
- Flatten of tone
- Difficulty transitioning between registers
- Reduced stamina
In addition to poor voice production, these symptoms may indicate structural dysfunction of the neck and/or jaw:
- Difficulty or pain on swallowing
- Frequent throat clearing or coughing
- Jaw clicking, locking or grinding
- Difficulty yawning, biting
- Headaches, toothache, and neck pain
- Ear, eye and throat pain
- Trauma, e.g. motor vehicle accidents, falls, dental extraction, general anaesthetic
- Bad oral habits, e.g. clenching or grinding your teeth, chewing nails or gum
Vocal therapy is effective in treating these conditions and improving the quality of your voice. We may also refer you to a surgeon to address issues such as nodules and other growths on your vocal folds.
Conditions We Treat
Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD) is a common voice disorder. It’s caused by tightness in the muscles around the larynx which prevent your vocal cords from working efficiently. The symptoms of MTD include:
- Husky or rough voice
Strained or tight voice
Muscle tightness and aches in the throat
Soreness in the neck
Loss of vocal range, or sudden breaks in your voice
Feeling a lump in the throat
Needing to clear your throat frequently
The exact causes of MTD are unknown. It typically occurs due to irritants in the neck, throat and upper respiratory system. This includes infection, indigestion, smoking and vaping, and excessive demand on your voice (e.g. lecturing, meetings, singing, talking through a mask).
Vocal therapy is effective in treating muscle tension dysphonia. The right treatment can reduce the strain on your larynx, muscles and ligaments, improving the quality and efficiency of your singing.
Tongue root tension is exactly what it sounds like – tension in the muscles of your tongue and the root of the tongue. This can reduce your range and cause strain while you’re talking and singing. Here are the common symptoms of tongue root tension:
- Scratchy voice
Throaty or muffled voice
Reduced vocal range
Monotone speech
Singing and speaking require effort
Tongue root tension can be caused by poor technique, the coordination between the tongue and the muscles in your larynx, vocalising too loudly and excessive breath pressure.
Our vocal therapists can assess tongue root tension and provide exercises you can do to release the tension. This can improve your vocal technique, volume and stamina.
Globus pharyngeus is the sensation of a lump in your throat, even when there’s nothing there. It’s usually harmless and may not affect your voice. These are the common symptoms of globus pharyngeus:
- Feeling a lump in your throat
Tightness or pressure in your throat
Mucus that you can’t seem to clear
Discomfort in your throat
Difficulty or pain when swallowing
Globus pharyngeus is usually caused by muscle tension in the throat. While it may not affect your singing or speaking voice, it can be uncomfortable and is a sign that your muscles are being overworked.
Our treatment plans involve exercises that reduce the muscle tension in your throat. We may also recommend diet and lifestyle changes that will reduce the sensation of a lump in your throat.
Hyoid syndrome is an inflammation of the soft tissue surrounding your hyoid bone. These muscles and ligaments are critical in forming notes while you sing, so hyoid syndrome can cause strain, pain and difficulty singing. The common symptoms of hyoid syndrome include:
- Neck, jaw and face pain
Throat pain
The feeling of something stuck in your throat
Scratchy singing voice
Difficulty speaking or singing
Shortness of breath
Hyoid syndrome can be caused by overuse, excessive strain while singing, and injuries such as whiplash. We may refer you to an imaging specialist for X-rays or other scans to help identify the cause of your pain.
Early treatment is key to recovering from hyoid syndrome. If the issue can’t be resolved through rest and vocal therapy, our physiotherapists may recommend surgical intervention. Hyoid surgery is an effective and long-term solution to the pain and difficulties caused by hyoid syndrome.
Microlaryngoscopy is a specialist surgery where a camera is used to view your vocal folds. The surgeon assesses your vocal folds for injury, inflammation, polyps and other growths. If you undergo microlaryngoscopy, we can support your recovery.
The Headache, Neck & Jaw Clinic has vast experience in helping patients recover from microlaryngoscopy. We provide exercises and other manual therapies that aid in the process and prevent further injury.
While microlaryngoscopy is a serious procedure, it’s effective in resolving issues with your singing and speaking voice. Recovery is relatively easy and it provides a long-term solution for nodules, granulomas and polyps.
The Anatomy of Singing
Your voice is created by air flowing between the vocal cords inside your larynx, which is located underneath your Adam’s apple.
Vocal cords are supported by the cartilage of the larynx and a small semicircular bone called the hyoid. The hyoid bone does not attach to any other bone. Instead, it “floats” in soft tissue that can pull the hyoid and larynx in different directions, changing the volume and pitch of your voice.
Downward pull comes from muscle and connective tissue attached to the collarbones and ribs. The upward pull comes from the muscles at the base of your skull, jawbone (mandible) and root of your tongue. To feel this movement, place your hand on the front of your throat under your jaw. You should feel the front of your throat rise and lower as you swallow.
Many professional voice users unknowingly overuse the outer neck, tongue and jaw muscles with inefficient singing and speaking techniques. When you add long hours of working, rehearsing or performing, you can understand why talking and singing can lead to tension, pain and injury.
What to Expect From Vocal Therapy
Comprehensive Examination
We perform a full examination, discuss your medical history and injuries, and analyse the issues with your singing.
Hands-On Assessment
Our physiotherapists assess your voice, singing, neck, tongue and jaw to identify the cause of your vocal troubles.
Symptom Relief
We provide symptom relief as well as manual therapy and vocal exercises that can improve your voice in the long-term.
Patient Education
Understanding your voice will improve your vocal efficiency , so we provide education and answer any questions you have.
Reach Out To Us!
Get in touch with us today for more information on our services or to make an appointment with our friendly team.
Need Relief?
If singing has become a chore, or if you’re experiencing tension and discomfort while speaking, we can help. Book an appointment at the Headache, Neck & Jaw Clinic if you want to find relief and improve your vocal technique.
Frequently Asked Questions
Progress and time frames vary widely. It typically takes 6 weeks to stabilise the soft tissue in your neck. Increasing your endurance and long-term improvements to your singing technique may take 3-4 months.
Book a consultation to find out more. We’ll need to assess your neck, tongue, jaw and speaking technique before we can provide an accurate estimate of how many treatments you’ll need.
It’s a good idea to reduce performances and training intensity while you are undergoing vocal therapy.
Overuse of the vocal cords, ligaments and muscles is a common cause of pain and discomfort while singing. Parts of your vocal therapy will require you to do take-home exercises that may include singing. If you are doing these exercises and undertaking your normal performance or training schedule, it can make the problem worse.
The Headache, Neck & Jaw Clinic may be able to provide short-term soft tissue releases that allow you to attend immediate performances.