Muscle Tension Dysphonia: Is There Hope For Me?

Are you dealing with muscle tension related vocal problems? Let me share 5 main factors to consider when you are looking for long-term solutions to lessen tension and pain from your voice.

Tension

So, you are reading this blog post because you are dealing with muscle tension related vocal issues. Maybe you have the diagnosis of Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD) and maybe you don't. Maybe you have had this condition for some time and maybe you just got the diagnosis.

And maybe you are here because it feels like someone is strangling you when you speak, or your voice feels tired at the end of the day, or your voice gets hoarse after 30 minutes on a zoom call. All of these scenarios can point to muscle tension related voice problems.

The first step is to visit a voice specialist, more specifically a laryngologist who can properly assess your voice. This usually includes videostroboscopy so that the doctor can see what is going on with your vocal folds.

Nothing is Working

And maybe you have already done that and the doctor told you that there is nothing wrong with your voice and your vocal folds look great. Now, you are at a stage where you are looking for some solutions. And maybe you’ve already tried many different things, for example you drink more water, you steam your voice, you do vocal exercises like straw exercises or lip trills. Maybe you already tried physiotherapy or went for a massage. Those are all great things but your discomfort, tension or even pain are still present in your voice and you are wondering if they will ever go away.

Is There Hope for You?

Yes, there is. The key to being successful is to understand that this is a multifactorial complex problem that needs to be looked at from many different angles. It is not enough to just drink water or steam. It certainly helps but it does not solve the issue. It is great to go for a massage from time to time but what do you do the day after the massage? It is great to do straw exercises but these exercises don’t address the motor patterns of tension when speaking. My recommendation is to peel one layer at a time and deal with all of the factors that may be adding to the whole picture.

5 Factors

#1 Reducing physical tension

Tension is in the name: muscle tension related vocal problems, or muscle tension dysphonia has extra tension present in the muscles participating in or affecting voice and speech. The tension can originate in any body muscles, not just from the muscles in and around the voice box, the larynx. Therefore, it is important to find ways to release this tension.

#2 Optimizing vocal function

It is important to know that different vocal exercises have different goals. Some of them release tension, some improve airflow, some improve coordination, and others change the shape of the vocal tract.

There are other exercises that help optimize vocal function, they help establish more efficient ways of speaking without inviting tension. I personally like to work on different parts of the voice in isolation to gain awareness and control over that particular structure.

#3 Addressing emotional tension and stress

In my experience, people who have been dealing with voice issues for some time have thoughts and strong emotions about their voice, vocal disorder, their future and relationship to their own voice. These thoughts and emotions add extra tension on top of the physical tension that already exists in the body. It's very important to deal with the emotional part of your voice.

If you are experiencing vocal strain, tension or even pain when speaking, and you are ready to work with me towards a free, strong and confident voice, you can apply to our Vocal Freedom System coaching program. Learn more about the program here.

#4 Improving vocal endurance

People who are dealing with vocal issues usually lack vocal endurance. At some point in their recovery, they need to do some kind of strengthening and endurance exercises. This means increasing the length or frequency of vocal exercises. The goal is to be able to use voice for longer and longer periods of time than before.

#5 Considering additional factors

There are usually many other factors. Individually, they may not play a huge role but collectively, they may add tension or prevent you from finding true vocal freedom. Examples are acid reflux, chronic or acute medical conditions, hormonal changes, injuries, environment, lifestyle, diet, personality, family life, and many others.

Check out this video, to learn even more about each factor: