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Voice is the so=
und produced by the larynx (LAR-inks), commonly called the voice box. The larynx is located in the neck.=
Air passes from the lungs through the larynx when you exhale. Generally th=
ere is no sound made by this simple act of breathing. By closing the vocal folds like a valve, the air p=
asses gently between them, vibrating the folds and producing voice. A normal voice is judged according t=
o whether the pitch, loudness, and quality are adequate for communication a=
nd suit a particular person. A person may use a pitch which is too high, to=
o deep, too loud, too soft, o=
r too hoarse, breathy, or nasal. Sometimes a voice may seem inappropriate for an individual, such as a h=
igh pitched voice in an adult male. =
A person who has a voice problem can have many different vocal chara=
cteristics, such as: =
· Hoarseness =
· Harshness / l=
ow in pitch and very strained =
· Breathiness /=
whisper-like noise =
· Pitch breaks =
/ pitch goes up and down =
· Low volume =
· Hyponal or &#=
8220;stuffed up” =
· Dry cough =
· Persistent th=
roat clearing Voice is a prob=
lem when the pitch, loudness, or quality calls attention to itself rather t=
han to what the speaker is saying. <=
/span>It is also a problem if the speaker experiences pain or discomfort wh=
en speaking or singing. There=
are a variety of causes of voice problems. Persons can become hoarse temporarily by cheering at a baseb=
all game, or an individual can sustain an injury that causes a paralysis of=
a vocal fold. Misuse of the voice, such as talking too loudly or using a p=
itch level that is too high or too low, can result in a voice problem. Many problems i=
mprove dramatically with the help of a speech-language pathologist. Some pr=
oblems can profit by a combination of medical or surgical treatment and spe=
ech-language pathology service. When faulty use of the voice has caused a c=
ondition requiring surgery, the help of a speech-language pathologist will =
be necessary to avoid a recurrence of the problem. |
![3DVoice](3D"voice1_files/image002.gif")
![](3D"voice1_files/image003.gif")