A voice disorder occurs when the pitch, loudness, or quality calls attention to itself rather than to what the speaker is saying. Oral communication in the classroom is compromised.
If a student experiences hoarseness, voice change, or discomfort lasting more than 14 days, the school nurse should be contacted so that she or he may contact the parent to discuss a possible appointment with an otolaryngologist.
Students with a history of hyperfunctional voice problems related to voice abuse/misuse may benefit from oral hygiene exercises and/or retraining of the speaking and/or singing voice.
Hypernasal or hyponasal difficulties may be the result, faulty usage, or both. Medical assessment is suggested as the first step for proper diagnosis of such voice disorders. In Charlotte, free services may be available for students with persistent hypernasality at the Oral-Facial Team at Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation, sponsored by North Carolina Children’s Health Services. For additional plastic surgeons or otolaryngologists, please reference the telephone directory.
Voice therapy for students with impairments of voice related to organic or neurogenic etiology may be chiefly compensatory rather than remedial. Voice therapy may be conducted within the educational setting only if the disorder has a negative effect on the students’ academic performance.