• talking personVoice -a child with a voice problem can have many different vocal characteristics.

    •                  The child's voice may be too high or too low in pitch, too loud or too quiet in volume, or has a hoarse or harsh quality.

                     Poor voice quality may be linked to some type of vocal abuse. Vocal abuse may be caused by activities such as excessive screaming, frequent coughing, speaking at a high pitch or throat clearing.  Chronic abuse may lead to vocal nodules on the vocal cord. If a voice disorder is suspected the child should be evaluated by an ear, nose, and throat doctor or an otolaryngologist.  If voice therapy is recommended the speech language pathologist works with the student to identify an appropriate pitch and or volume and to reduce behaviors which are abusive to the vocal cords.  Voice therapy is often effective in improving the child's voice.