Phenomenal. I lost my voice in 2017. It was devastating because I had just returned to performing. There was much pain involved with singing as I tried to regain my voice. An ENT said I showed evidence of a long term infection but told me it had cleared up. Yet the pain remained unbearable. My voice coach couldn't understand it. My attack was impaired, there was a flange effect when I sang, and I could always hear air escaping when I produced a note. I gave up. Much later I found out I had late stage Lyme disease. Then it all made sense: the nerve supply to my cords had been denigrated by the pathogens. I started treating the Lyme when it was diagnosed a couple of years ago. The pain has decreased but vocal weakness has persisted. I just performed your massage technique and the sensation of singing was easier and deeper than I've experienced in years. I will continue to practice it. Thank you.
That is wonderful news! There are also techniques specific to weak vocal folds, so definitely consult with a voice therapist who can help you with those techniques! Best of luck!
I’ve been working on this for several weeks now. Today I did the massage along with the video. For the first time, I actually felt my voice box drop down in my larynx and my voice sounded amazing
I’m a public school teacher, and the vocal fatigue that comes with teaching can be SO intense. As a semi-professional singer, I am so excited to be finding ways to help with these apparently very common problems 💜
Amazing! I had unilateral vocal fold paralysis after thyroid removal surgery and since then I have been losing my voice. After this massage, the tension and pain disappeared and the voice came back!
I have irritable larynx syndrome (sounds ridiculous but apparently it's real), and this just helped me so much. All of the tightness I was feeling in my my throat is gone. The tickle that was making me cough nonstop is greatly reduced. I had been given a steroid inhaler even though my lung function was stellar, but they admitted they didn't know what else to do to calm it down. I tried it and became a complete basket case. Steroids work for some people, but I'm just too sensitive to them. I tried this exercise after hours of researching and desperation. I'm stunned. This will become part of my regular routine, thank you so much. 🙏
This is wonderful news. We have many clients with irritable larynx syndrome. Your comment has inspired me to create an instructional video on additional techniques to reduce the tickle/cough. You also have to watch out for any triggers that can irritate the larynx, such as reflux, allergens, ice cold foods and beverages, certain spices, scents, or fumes, etc. Best of luck!
Thank you 🙏🏻thank you 🙏🏽thank you🙏🏾. I’m a teacher going through chemo for autoimmune disease. My lungs are my biggest issue but I was recently diagnosed with MTD. I have my first appointment with my speech therapist in December but the neck pain has been unbearable these last few days. Five minutes with you and I have SPACE and freedom in my neck again. I truly can’t thank you enough for making this available. ❤
After doing this I had a much better vocal performance reaching high chest vocals that had been missing for a while. Very pleased thankyou this is great .
I had trained for voice work, then I decided to work in a call centre. I thought I had ruined my throat and voice. The ENT doctor only found non-approximating vocal cords - a repetitive strain injury common among call centre workers in his practice. That was a relief, I thought I had nodes or worse. I was referred to therapy, and she sent me to this video. Here's hoping, though finding employment after a year of no work would really help the stress too.
I thought this was bs. Im am sick and lost my voice. Did this and woke up this morning talking. Not at 100, but its a start. Im doing this right now. Til im 100 percent. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 Thank u.
That's wonderful news! Keep up with a program of good vocal hygiene, some vocal warm-ups, larynx massage, and of course, guidance from an ENT/laryngologist and hopefully a voice therapist. You can do it!!
Im a choir teacher that just started and three days later my voice feels so weak i have a gig this weekend and hoping this helps at least destress my muscles as the stress was building up this week
@@VoiceCareWithKaren Hope you achieve 1k soon, got mine not a long ago. Because of your video I think I'll be making good progresses soon on my voice. Thanks again!
I’ve done that side to side movement some years. It feels like it takes away tension. I hope it is safe. It never hurts and feels safe and my throat feels relaxed after
It certainly sounds like you're doing it correctly; of course use the video as a guide. If it ever feels tight or clicks going side to side, then reduce that motion and work more on the "pull-down".
This detailed tutorial is absolutely amazing! Thank you for the great insights into a simple yet very effective way to relax our voice! My voice felt so relaxed after just minutes of my first try! Thank you!
This video was so informative! I was wondering if the techniques had names? (starting at around 5:40) For example, pull down maneuver, push back maneuver, medial compression? Were these shown in this video? Thank you!
The entire procedure is called laryngeal massage or circumlaryngeal massage. I gave the individual steps names to help people remember them: center-around-corners-down are the 4 massage steps, and the wiggle-pull-down is the 5th non-rhyming step. I use a push back maneuver and medial compression for other voice issues, such as weak vocal folds or certain psychogenic voice disorders.
Thank you so much! I am a teacher and I’m suffering from LPR… my voice is sooo fatigued, tired , I feel like forcing myself to speak! Hope this will help 🙏🏼
Thank you so much for this. I'm home from emergency abdominal surgery and my voice disappeared after I got home. I can't see an ENT until mid Jan. I'm also a teacher so my voice is often tired/achy. It never occurred to me to massage my vocal cords. Only when they asked on the phone if my throat hurt to the touch did I realize, that no, in fact it felt really nice to rub! Thanks for the detailed tutorial!
Wishing you a speedy recovery! Laryngeal massage can be a great tool in the teacher's arsenal for vocal health. Once your surgery heals, hopefully, you can regain strength in your abdominal breath support muscles.
I had C19 and it gave me a serious case of voice issues! Thank God I had only a cough which wasn’t too bad. But two months after it’s been gone! I still can’t sing properly. Thanks for helping me out! I will give your technics a try! ❤
This is happening to so many people! Voice therapy is often very helpful. So is inhaling steam or nebulized saline. This massage technique will help to reduce compensatory and stress-related muscle tension. Best wishes for a full vocal recovery!
@@VoiceCareWithKaren do you do zoom calls? I havent felt this much relief ever… i teared up after being able to sing for a couple hours no pain last night. I have EDS so it would be a dream to work with you somehow.
@@Justmalaya Yes, we offer virtual therapeutic singing lessons worldwide, and voice therapy services for NY and CA residents. Our website has a contact form that will get you in touch with our Voice Program Coordinator. provoicecare.net
So helpful! Thank you! I feel better after one massage and I will introduce this into a daily routine. I have neck pain after speaking a few days in a row in my workshops. Question: is there an extended version to include the muscles holding the jaws and the back of the neck? I feel like doing a full head massage that would increase relaxation further. Thanks again!
I agree that a general head and neck-area massage would be helpful. However, we don't have a video on this, as we like to customize these techniques for the particular needs of each clients. Check out a group called BackIntelligence.com; they have great videos and handouts on head and neck tension issues. Hope this is helpful!
Thank you Karen for creating this life-changing video. The massage works like magic. I've heard MTD for over a decade and I had no idea how the problem could be treated, but after doing the massage three times I was pleasantly surprised to my original voice. There seems to be a slight problem, though. The effect of the massage wears off after doing voice over for a couple minutes. Am I to assume that I need to do the massage for an extended period to fully get my original voice back?
The massage is a very helpful tool, but it is only one of many techniques in a complete voice therapy program. It is also possible that you need to do some voice therapy exercises as warm-ups, in addition to the massage, to get more complete and lasting relief. Try some easy lip or tongue trills, humming, or vocalizing through a straw, before voice over work. And be sure to get your vocal cords examined by a fellowship-trained laryngologist, to get a thorough assessment of the problem. Best of luck!
@@VoiceCareWithKaren Thank you so much for responding to my message with a great advice. I would like you to know that I've gone for endoscopy, and result revealed that my vocal folds are okay. The other thing that the endoscopy results revealed is that acid reflux was the cause of my voice problem. Since then I've taken a host of medications - proton pump inhibitors, pro-kinetics, anti-inflammatory - but there's hasn't been any success. I must also add that I adopted the good behavior of sleeping at least two hours after a meal, and sleeping on pillow, but still there hasn't been success. The straw exercise at first was okay by later on it began to cause more discomfort and led to more mucous production in the throat. The humming exercise I would say had minimal impact, and thus decided to forget about it. The only thing I can say has worked, albeit with a short-lived impact, is the laryngeal massage. Going forward, I'll incorporate laryngeal massage, humming and other exercises. In the video above you say that massage should last for five minutes. I was now wondering whether I should do the laryngeal massage for longer duration now that I've had the problem for about twelve years now.
This could be what i am dealing with right now. I recently started to sing, with all the info i got about it i was pretty sure i was doing it correct. I never felt pain or hoarseness in any way, nor i was overusing my voice pretty much. Then i had this strange pain at the side of the throat which feels more muscular than a classic throat infection/sickness. I went to the doctor and he said, "you can sing, your vocalchords are looking very good" Im starting to do this now, or even add it to my daily routine and see if theres improvement.
It sounds like there could be a muscle tension component, although without the full history and examination, there's no way to know for sure. If your doctor is confident that the vocal folds are functioning normally, then working on muscle tension is a good plan of action. Keep in mind that there are many techniques for voice production, relaxation, and breath support that may be needed; laryngeal massage is one very important part. Good luck; I hope it helps you!
It will also help if you do the laryngeal massage BEFORE you sing! Use it as a warm-up technique, and as a voice reset technique! Love those high voices :-) Wishing you that Choice Voice!!
Hi First of all thank you soo much for such a detailed video. Im a tutor by profession and after a long term of teaching my throat started paining and i notice flap tissue (Epiglottis) is visible and its creating a tickling sensation while teaching and makes me cough . Can i do this excercise and will it works??And is it ok with visible Epiglottis?? Thanks
You're very welcome! You can certainly try the straw phonation exercises and see if they help. As for the visible epiglottis, that's something that some people just have. It shouldn't cause a problem, but if feels like it recently became an issue, I advise an examination by your ENT or fellowship-trained laryngologist to rule out a problem, especially since you've noticed pain after teaching, which is never supposed to happen (42 years of teaching voice for 6-10 hours a day here...and no pain!). Voice evaluation and voice therapy may be the route to follow. Best of luck!
Thank you Karen, I have been suffering with MTD for over an year now. Glad to have found you. My voice shakes only in the mid range chest voice and lower. I will do these exercises and give back a feedback soon. Hope I find some relief as I am a professional singer from India and very depressed with this lack of control in my muscles.
So happy to be of service; I hope this technique helps you. There are many more techniques that could potentially help you with your MTD. Reach out to our office anytime via our website listed above; we are happy to help.
So I did these massages and very quickly felt extreme dizziness, light headedness, chest tightness and palpitations. My whole body feels weak and shaky. Clearly, I massaged the carotid by mistake. Or is this normal? It feels like it has been an hour now and the worst of the symptoms are gone. But it is still coming in waves. Less severe each time. I have a lot of tension and tightness in my throat, so I want to do this right. Please help! I posted this on another video, but I just want to be sure I am not doing something wrong or dangerous. I never get massages. The sensation is quite scary
This is definitely not the expected response. You may be hypersensitive, or you may have squeezed a bit. Either way, I would leave the area alone, and check in with your doctor to see what's going on. And any time you touch your neck, my advice would be to do one side at a time, and start with only 20-30 seconds. If you can't tolerate that, then I would advise avoiding this technique. Ask you doctor!
I'm glad this is helpful. I would take a total of 3-5 minutes for the entire laryngeal massage, that is the massage, wiggle from side to side, and pulling down. Listen to your body and see if the muscles need more massage before you do the wiggle and pull-down. If you're really tight, some moist heat on the neck first might be helpful.
I've had problem with my voice for a long long time doctors says there's nothing wrong. It's so embarrassing when I need to rise my voice a bit and I can feel my throat getting tight and my voice just loses pitch. Will this work
Laryngeal massage and manipulation can certainly be a component of a comprehensive voice therapy program that could be of great benefit to you. It's not accurate that there's "nothing wrong" as far as what your doctors say. It's just that they can't find a nodule or another mass lesion, but they are not acknowledging the muscle tension dysphonia that you may be experiencing. It's best to be examined by a fellowship-trained laryngologist, who would have expertise in voice problems. Then a speech-language pathologist specializing in voice therapy would be your next step. Try the laryngeal massage and manipulation; you certainly have nothing to lose, and it might help! Stay very well hydrated and breathe steam or nebulized saline. Best of luck!
Thank you for this!! I think I’ve over worked my voice and am starting to lose it. How do you know when it’s best to rest or do vocal exercises to help it?
Vocal rest is only applicable after surgery or vocal fold hemorrhage. The best thing to do is conserve the voice, in other words, say it in less words, choose quiet environments over noisy ones, say it more softly, etc. Voice exercises are nearly always appropriate!
Hello! Thank you so much, how many times a day would you recommend doing this massage and for how long for a 2 year MTD sufferer like myself? Thanks again from Mexico!
Thank you for your question, Alberto. I usually have my clients do this once a day, but many are telling me that they feel better using it twice a day. My best advice is "listen to your body" and use this more often if needed. 5 minutes is usually enough in my experience, but again, listen to your body to see if you need more. In the words of one of my ENT colleagues, it may feel a little worse before it feels better, as you may have released some of the "knots" in the fascia. Some of my clients use moist heat either before or after massage. Of course, there are many laryngeal reposturing techniques, such as the "pull-down" at the end of this procedure. For MTD, these should be part of a comprehensive vocal rehabilitation therapy program with a qualified voice therapist, with periodic re-examinations by a fellowship trained laryngologist. I hope this helps!
@@VoiceCareWithKaren hi so I just went to do this again and noticed that the right side under my jaw is tender. I probably only massaged that part for 2 min. Why do you think this would be? It wasn’t sore yesterday but it was firmer than the other side so I massaged it more. Thanks
@@imeleventeen it's difficult to say without direct examination. Tenderness under the jaw especially off to the sides could be tongue tension also. Try putting some heat on the area before your next massage, and see if it loosens up. If not, have it checked by a qualified ENT or laryngologist.
Since I have had my thyroid removed, my voice has become different, I don’t even recognize my voice when I sing. I loved to sing but unable now. I am unsure if I can correct this problem.
Thyroid issues and surgery can often affect the voice. Get examined by a fellowship-trained laryngologist who can determine what is causing your voice problem. There are many techniques that can help you, once the actual problem is identified. Best of luck!
I strained my voice very badly when singing over a week ago. I have this strange clicking sensation in my throat if I try to use my voice sometimes..no idea what this could be? Tried these exercises and on the last one- it literally felt like there was something stuck in my throat. Should I continue with these exercises or wait until I heal? (Not sure how long that will take or what I'm done wrong to my throat). Any info would be great, thanks x
You should absolutely be examined by a fellowship-trained laryngologist (an ENT with an additional year of training in voice), to see what's wrong. No point in self-diagnosing, nor can I tell what's wrong. Muscle tension dysphonia from straining the voice can feel like something stuck in the throat, but so can reflux and a host of other issues. Best to stop the exercises and get examined asap!
Hi i have a paralysed vocal cord but my voice is around 80% finctional and i can sing also... But my voice gets tired easily... Can suggest some exercises for me pls
I am not permitted to suggest direct therapy exercises, since you are not under my care and I can't fully assess your situation. One suggestion you can try while you speak or sing: turn your head slightly to one side; this will help to close the gap between the vocal folds. The best way to proceed is to be seen by a speech-language pathologist with expertise in voice disorders, who can evaluate you and suggest voice therapy techniques tailored to your specific vocal situation. Best of luck!
This procedure can always help to reduce muscle tension associated with the voice. However, the cause of voice loss following thyroidectomy can be injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. This should be examined by a fellowship-trained laryngologist.
For many years my voice has been breathy, no bass, and had tests, cameras down my throat,no one knows what is going on. I want my voice back. I need to communicate. Any advice?
It may be time for a different laryngologist for a fresh opinion. Have you tried vocal rehabilitation therapy with a qualified voice therapist or vocologist? That would be your next step. Breathiness can be a symptom of many things. Once there is an accurate diagnosis, the proper treatment/training can be administered. Best of luck!
It might. If the globus is a sensory symptom caused by singing with strain or tension, circumlaryngeal massage and manipulation may help. However, the first line of defense would be finding out why singing is causing the globus sensation to begin with. If you work with a qualified singing teacher or singing voice specialist, they should be able to help you "tweak your technique to sing at your peak".
Possibly. It could be that the massage is releasing tension from some of the muscles around the larynx. Often when we begin to massage a tense muscle in this area, it feels sore, sensitive, achy, tight, etc. Sometimes it even feels like a lump or bump, which softens after massage. Once we massage and manipulate the structures per the video, this sore feeling reduces. Or it just feels relaxing because it IS relaxing! Everyone should do laryngeal massage and reposturing every day!
You can certainly use laryngeal massage to help relieve the throat muscle tension that may be associated with hoarseness. However, the reflux still needs to be treated with diet and lifestyle changes, and medication if indicated by your physician.
But the last one (the pulling down the larynx) my larynx doesn't come down with fingers but i can move it side to side is this normal right? I mean it shouldn't technically come down with fingers? 🤔
It can come down a bit. As you work the larynx gently from side to side, give it a tug downwards like you're gently pulling the window shade down at night. The muscles will stretch, and the larynx will lower. You can get a sense of how the larynx feels when it lowers by putting your finger on your Adam's apple, and then yawning. You'll feel your larynx drop.
I have tiny nodule on left side of vocal cord.. Doc has advised me to massage my vocal cords no need of medicine he said.. I hve mild dysphonia... Does ur video help me in that please reply
Laryngeal massage can definitely be effective as part of a total program of vocal rehabilitation therapy. If the lesion is truly a nodule, voice therapy techniques can be very effective in resolving it, along with vocal hygiene including hydration, steam inhalation or use of nebulized saline, avoiding caffeine, alcohol, smoking etc., an anti-reflux program if indicated, and avoiding vocal abuses such as yelling. Best of luck!
It should help with the muscle tension associated with laryngitis. There may also be associated improvement in your voice quality, but that depends on what's causing the laryngitis.
Hello, I’m suffering from MTD for 3years now and specifically tongue tension .my voice therapist recommended that I do a larynx massage daily for 45 minutes. I have been doing the massage for 4 days now and whenever I touch my neck I feel so much pain as if there were bruises on my neck Is that normal? Please help
Hi, Mira. Sorry to hear about your pain. In my practice, I usually advise starting with 5 minutes of circumlaryngeal massage and manipulation/reposturing daily, and work up to twice a day if needed. Using moist heat first may also be helpful. So at this point, 45 minutes seems too long. Also, for tongue tension, there are specific massages for under the tongue, as well as myofascial release techniques for the tongue. This tongue tension has to be addressed; laryngeal massage may not be enough. Try massaging upward into the floor of your mouth, from under your chin, with your thumb, or humming with your tongue sticking out between the lips. Also, we would need to look at underlying contributing factors, like posture, head/neck alignment, tongue thrust, clenching/grinding, and other habits that contribute to oral/vocal tension. Your voice therapist should be able to help you with some of these, but you might also consider the services of a knowledgeable physical therapist, active muscle release therapist, or myofascial release therapist. Best of luck!
@@VoiceCareWithKaren thank you for replying! I have noticed some teeth clenching while sleeping but now it stopped and my tongue can’t fit my jaw but I never thought of it as a problem I do these things on daily bases:1-massaging my tongue root on my mouth floor and my jaw “it’s where I feel pain the most buy only on the right side,the left side seems like it’s tension free” 2-massaging my throat like grabbing it and pushing it down .3-yoga for improving my back and neck posture and stretching my neck muscles 4-singing while grabbing my tongue 5-acid reflux diet And since in my country there are no professionals for the MTD I do everything online. I hope I’m doing everything right and see the results soon
@@mirajardat5583 you sound like you are on the right track. It looks like I need to make some videos to help with jaw and tongue tension :-) Take it more gently with the larynx massage and pull-down.
The "valley" above the middle of the adam's apple feels like the shape of a "v." I am male anatomy btw and I just wanted to ask if I'm at the right place to be massaging?
On my left side of my larynx it will click out of place a have manual pop it back from a past injury. But real my problem is when massage my right side I feel like I’m drowning! Like mucus and saliva just drains and suffocates me.. any tips?!
When you feel a click, try less manipulation from side to side, and just concentrate on gently pulling the larynx in a downward direction. As for the draining, I am not sure what that is; have your laryngologist/ENT take a look.
This massage is not specifically for dysfluency disorders. However, it can't hurt, if you feel it might help to reduce muscle tension in the associated areas.
@@karensussman9703 what should i do for overcome from disfluency disorders ? It may be phyciological speech problem ( speech anxiety) which type of treatment should i take ? Which doctor should i go to treat ? Plss help me ..give me some advice
@@JZ0009 I a not a fluency specialist but there are SLPs who are. I don't know your location, but reach out to American Speech Language Hearing Association (asha.org), or your local or state speech therapy organizations, and they can guide you. Here on Long Island, Lori Melnitsky is an excellent fluency specialist: www.allislandspeech.com/
I grew up in an argumentative house so between the ages of 13-18 there was a lot of screaming on my part and i have found that my voice feels really restricted and i cant go to high up without massive strain or cracking. I don’t know if it’s damaged. Will these massages help alleviate that restriction?
Possibly. But the most important and essential first step is to have your vocal mechanism examined by an ENT, preferably a fellowship-trained laryngologist, to see if there is actual damage to the vocal folds, or muscle tension, or both. The massage is certainly a useful component to any voice therapy program, but it's important for you to get information on what is truly wrong. More techniques and/or medical intervention may also be needed. It's wise to find out. Best of luck!
@@VoiceCareWithKaren thank you for the speedy response. I’ll try the exercises to see if that could help it, if it does I’ll definitely go see a specialist.
There are so many reasons that this could happen that a simple answer is not possible without a thorough evaluation. There could be tension, swelling, lesions, weakness, etc. Laryngeal massage and therapeutic voice techniques including cup bubbles and straw phonation may be helpful for the MTD. Make sure you are guided by a laryngologist, a qualified voice therapist, and a knowledgeable voice teacher. Best of luck!
My mother is on dialysis and she loves to sing.. However, when she sings on slightly higher pitch her voice cracks... She is not allowed to drink too much water, could you please share some tips she can use to improve her voice quality
I always defer to the treating physician on medical issues that are outside my scope of practice. If she is not allowed to drink too much water, see if she is able to breathe steam or nebulized saline to moisturize her vocal folds. Also, if she hasn't been singing much, her vocal mechanism may be de-conditioned. She may need to gradually increase her range using gentle sirens on humming, straw, trills, etc. She should be mindful of any physical limitations and follow her doctor's advice.
Possibly. If the globus sensation is due to muscle tension, you may see improvement. However, globus can also be caused by acid reflux. It can't hurt to try laryngeal massage, but if there is underlying reflux, that needs to be treated with diet and lifestyle changes, as well as possibly medication. The best course of action is to see your ENT and/or laryngologist, as well as possibly a gastroenterologist.
@@asfsf6625 This sounds like you are being very proactive :-) I see that Deanxit is banned in numerous countries. I do not like to give advice on medications, so please consult with a physician on that. Try the laryngeal massage as a component of your total wellness program.
It won’t heal vocal cord paralysis, unfortunately. But if there is a secondary muscle tension as a response to the underlying primary problem of vocal cord paralysis, the circumlaryngeal massage will help to reduce some of that tension. There are other techniques to help people compensate, at least to an extent, for the paralyzed vocal cord. A qualified voice therapist can work with you to find which combination of techniques will be the most helpful for you!
There are so many reasons why a voice can "crack". This technique is certainly an important part of a voice training/voice therapy program, but an ENT should examine your vocal cords to see why your voice is cracking.
what if you have a slanted highwood bone. My highwood bone tilt to the right more than evenly. I need help with this. It also affect my singing because i feel the pressure in my throat sometimes.
This is something that should definitely be looked at by an otolaryngologist, preferably a fellowship-trained laryngologist (voice doctor). Perhaps it isn't really the tilt of the hyoid bone that's the problem, maybe it's muscle tension that's causing the throat pressure. Get it checked and then get the help you need for it, whether it's voice therapy, physical therapy, etc. You can also try the laryngeal massage and see if it helps. Good luck!!
Puberphonia may have a muscle tension component, so for that, laryngeal massage may be helpful. However, puberphonia requires specialized exercises to help the vocal folds get used to the new adjustment for lower pitch and more powerful voice. I'm not permitted to suggest those techniques without actually evaluating a client and reading the medical report. When you do the laryngeal massage and you pull down the larynx at the end, try speaking while holding the larynx down. See if you get a deeper and fuller sound.
Only in that it is a relaxing procedure. It is not a specific treatment for stammering/stuttering, however. A qualified speech-language pathologist with expertise in stuttering may be able to help.
@@VoiceCareWithKaren i start her tharapy 2 month ago.she guides me about exercises but i want to know much more about massage.will u guide me about it??
@@zaraaneel7822 please contact our office through our website contact form: provoicecare.net/contact/. Please Note: we are licensed to deliver direct services only in New York and California, even if they are virtual.
I suppose that if any massage or manipulation is done forcefully without proper guidance, there could be discomfort. No one has ever reported an issue beyond mild muscular discomfort, likely caused by releasing some of the muscle tension. There should be a feeling of less tension generally when you finish. The video provides a good model to follow. The rocking motion should be done gently and in a very small excursion if you are concerned. If you have any trepidation at all, then work with a qualified voice therapist who can guide you, to give you more confidence.
i have to speak on the phone 3 hours a day. how many times should i do this? im a salesman so i have to make sure my voice dont start hurting in the middle of a pitch.
Start with once before you start making your calls, and once after you finish, or in the evening after work. Try it on a non-work day first to see how you do. Then you can judge how often you can tolerate it in one day. One to two times a day to start is fine. Also do easy humming or straw slides on "hoo" (up and down) between calls to relax and reset your vocal mechanism.
@@billdeng9050 I hope it helps! Also, voice pain is never normal. If you haven't already been seen by a fellowship-trained laryngologist, an ENT with a voice specialty, I would strongly advise it!
@@VoiceCareWithKaren i think thats just because i have to constantly switch my tonalities and not getting enough air during my pitch. hopefully it will go back to normal after my larynx stays lowered.
Hi Thank you for your very good training I am a singer But the problem I have is that when I do this massage, my voice sounds great for a day and I feel free. But after that, everything goes back to the way it was before! What do you think about this? Do I have any habits? Which makes me go back to the previous state? Can it be related to the pain in my back because my job is the software engineer and I work with the computer a lot of the time and this always causes pain in my neck. Can my job cause problems in Stretch the muscles of my neck and finally the larynx? tnx
It's very encouraging that you are getting a positive result after you do the laryngeal massage. However, it sounds like you need to continue to use it on a daily basis. There may be numerous other factors that cause your voice to go back to the way it was before, including vocal technique, hydration, phonotraumatic behaviors like talking over noise or shouting over a distance, stress, etc. Yes, the way we align or misalign ourselves in front of a computer screen can adversely affect our vocal function. Look at our blogs on posture and alignment, laptop screen position, etc. for some helpful hints.
@@VoiceCareWithKaren thanks for the reply Just one thing During the massage, my doctor tells me that your apple turned a little to the left and with a painful massage, he tries to put my apple back in its place. I wanted to know if this is the only way to get my apple back to normal? Or why should this happen to me at all? And whether this can be related to the problem of pressure in my voice?
@@miladmazaheri9054 it's difficult for me to comment, since I'm not able to see what the doctor was doing. What we try to do during the laryngeal massage is release muscle tension and encourage a lower position of the larynx through gentle reposturing in a downward direction. I would not recommend anything forceful at all. I do agree that tension surrounding the laryngeal mechanism can contribute to a feeling of pressure in the voice. So can poor posture or misuse of the voice. In addition to a qualified voice therapist, a physical therapist may be able to help you, especially one trained in myofascial release therapy.
If your voice is unclear because of muscle tension, this technique may help. Of course, there are many reasons why someone might ask us to repeat ourselves (e.g., voice too soft, not articulating words clearly, breathy, low, or weak voice, etc.). Try laryngeal massage and see if it helps, If not, a qualified voice therapist should be able to assess the problem and help you to solve the problem. Good luck!
Yes, absolutely! A huge contributing factor to laryngeal tension is emotional stress. So, even if you can't eliminate the stress altogether, at least with this technique, you can reduce the effects of stress on the voice!
I apologize; I don't have enough information to answer a complex question like this on this forum. There are many variables that go into this to determine the course of action: possibilities include vocal fold swelling or pathology, muscle tension, hormonal issues, and so on. My advice would be to get an examination by a fellowship-trained laryngologist, and then see a voice therapist if appropriate. Best of luck!
Look. This is a easy way to hurt yourself horribly. Please DO NOT DO THIS! where is your credentials because your are going to get someone hurt. And damage so much in someone’s throat.
We're sorry you feel that way. My credentials are listed under the video. I'm a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist and vocologist with 42 years' experience, and was trained in this technique by the person who originated it. We've treated about 13,000 individuals, and have gotten excellent results. We teach our clients to do the massage at home using the same procedure that you see in the video.
Phenomenal. I lost my voice in 2017. It was devastating because I had just returned to performing. There was much pain involved with singing as I tried to regain my voice. An ENT said I showed evidence of a long term infection but told me it had cleared up. Yet the pain remained unbearable. My voice coach couldn't understand it. My attack was impaired, there was a flange effect when I sang, and I could always hear air escaping when I produced a note. I gave up. Much later I found out I had late stage Lyme disease. Then it all made sense: the nerve supply to my cords had been denigrated by the pathogens. I started treating the Lyme when it was diagnosed a couple of years ago. The pain has decreased but vocal weakness has persisted. I just performed your massage technique and the sensation of singing was easier and deeper than I've experienced in years. I will continue to practice it. Thank you.
That is wonderful news! There are also techniques specific to weak vocal folds, so definitely consult with a voice therapist who can help you with those techniques! Best of luck!
I’ve been working on this for several weeks now. Today I did the massage along with the video. For the first time, I actually felt my voice box drop down in my larynx and my voice sounded amazing
I'm so glad this is working for you! Keep up the good work and you'll continue to get results!
God bless you and give you success
How you feel now?
That's awesome!!!
I’m a public school teacher, and the vocal fatigue that comes with teaching can be SO intense. As a semi-professional singer, I am so excited to be finding ways to help with these apparently very common problems 💜
Yes! Very common. So glad this is helpful!
Amazing! I had unilateral vocal fold paralysis after thyroid removal surgery and since then I have been losing my voice. After this massage, the tension and pain disappeared and the voice came back!
Wow! That's fantastic! Wishing you continued success!
I have irritable larynx syndrome (sounds ridiculous but apparently it's real), and this just helped me so much. All of the tightness I was feeling in my my throat is gone. The tickle that was making me cough nonstop is greatly reduced. I had been given a steroid inhaler even though my lung function was stellar, but they admitted they didn't know what else to do to calm it down. I tried it and became a complete basket case. Steroids work for some people, but I'm just too sensitive to them. I tried this exercise after hours of researching and desperation. I'm stunned. This will become part of my regular routine, thank you so much. 🙏
This is wonderful news. We have many clients with irritable larynx syndrome. Your comment has inspired me to create an instructional video on additional techniques to reduce the tickle/cough. You also have to watch out for any triggers that can irritate the larynx, such as reflux, allergens, ice cold foods and beverages, certain spices, scents, or fumes, etc. Best of luck!
Thank you 🙏🏻thank you 🙏🏽thank you🙏🏾. I’m a teacher going through chemo for autoimmune disease. My lungs are my biggest issue but I was recently diagnosed with MTD. I have my first appointment with my speech therapist in December but the neck pain has been unbearable these last few days. Five minutes with you and I have SPACE and freedom in my neck again. I truly can’t thank you enough for making this available. ❤
This is wonderful to hear! You are very welcome! We are very gratified that this information can help so many people 🙂
After doing this I had a much better vocal performance reaching high chest vocals that had been missing for a while. Very pleased thankyou this is great .
We are so glad this is helpful! Wishing you continued success!
5:00
Did you have a question?
@@VoiceCareWithKaren oh no i just wanted to come back to this video and that's where the instruction starts.
@@wideetreee3896 Super!
I had trained for voice work, then I decided to work in a call centre. I thought I had ruined my throat and voice. The ENT doctor only found non-approximating vocal cords - a repetitive strain injury common among call centre workers in his practice. That was a relief, I thought I had nodes or worse. I was referred to therapy, and she sent me to this video. Here's hoping, though finding employment after a year of no work would really help the stress too.
Wow! Best of luck and wishing you good vocal health!
I don’t use my voice professionally but do suffer with chronic tension in my throat and consequently my voice. This technique really works. Thank you.
So glad you found it helpful!
I thought this was bs. Im am sick and lost my voice. Did this and woke up this morning talking. Not at 100, but its a start. Im doing this right now. Til im 100 percent. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 Thank u.
That's wonderful news! Keep up with a program of good vocal hygiene, some vocal warm-ups, larynx massage, and of course, guidance from an ENT/laryngologist and hopefully a voice therapist. You can do it!!
Im a choir teacher that just started and three days later my voice feels so weak i have a gig this weekend and hoping this helps at least destress my muscles as the stress was building up this week
It's worth a try, especially if there's a stress component as you mentioned. Start with 5 minutes once a day as tolerated and see if it helps.
When you opened your mouth I knew something was right. It feels really free, congratulations! And great video, you deserve more subscribers!
Thank you for those kind words! I'm so glad these videos are helpful. We're on our way to 1000 subscribers, and I'm grateful for all of you!
@@VoiceCareWithKaren Hope you achieve 1k soon, got mine not a long ago. Because of your video I think I'll be making good progresses soon on my voice. Thanks again!
@@Nossaki Fantastic!!
Thank you💛🎤🎶 for sharing your proffessional technique. Now I can do this by myself 😊
Awesome! You're very welcome and glad it's helping!
I’ve done that side to side movement some years. It feels like it takes away tension. I hope it is safe. It never hurts and feels safe and my throat feels relaxed after
It certainly sounds like you're doing it correctly; of course use the video as a guide. If it ever feels tight or clicks going side to side, then reduce that motion and work more on the "pull-down".
Your voice is so soothing. ❤
Thank you so much!
So glad it's helpful! 🙂
😭😭😭this helped me soo much😭😭😭 I feel better after the first massage and my voice sounds clear I will do this on a daily
So glad this is helpful. It's truly a powerful technique for relieving vocal tension.
Is it real ??
@@charanteja1160 the technique is real, and effective as part of a total vocal therapy rehabilitation program.
🎉 Thanks a lot for this video.
You're very welcome!
This detailed tutorial is absolutely amazing! Thank you for the great insights into a simple yet very effective way to relax our voice! My voice felt so relaxed after just minutes of my first try! Thank you!
So glad this is helpful! Keep up the good work, and get that Choice Voice!
11:09 recap n summary
This video was so informative! I was wondering if the techniques had names? (starting at around 5:40) For example, pull down maneuver, push back maneuver, medial compression? Were these shown in this video? Thank you!
The entire procedure is called laryngeal massage or circumlaryngeal massage. I gave the individual steps names to help people remember them: center-around-corners-down are the 4 massage steps, and the wiggle-pull-down is the 5th non-rhyming step. I use a push back maneuver and medial compression for other voice issues, such as weak vocal folds or certain psychogenic voice disorders.
Thank you so much i truly appreciate it I'm better now really thanks god bless you all
That's wonderful! Glad this helped!
Thank you so much! I am a teacher and I’m suffering from LPR… my voice is sooo fatigued, tired , I feel like forcing myself to speak! Hope this will help 🙏🏼
Thank you so much for this. I'm home from emergency abdominal surgery and my voice disappeared after I got home. I can't see an ENT until mid Jan. I'm also a teacher so my voice is often tired/achy. It never occurred to me to massage my vocal cords. Only when they asked on the phone if my throat hurt to the touch did I realize, that no, in fact it felt really nice to rub! Thanks for the detailed tutorial!
Wishing you a speedy recovery! Laryngeal massage can be a great tool in the teacher's arsenal for vocal health. Once your surgery heals, hopefully, you can regain strength in your abdominal breath support muscles.
How come you lost your voice after abdominal surgery ?
@@gabby20 the trauma of emergency intubation. Two tubes - maybe too big or too fast? My throat wanted to stay clenched up in a protective response.
Oh no that's terrible. I'm glad you're okay now xx
Thank you very much
Glad this was helpful!
Massage is so healing! Love this thank you ❤
So glad it's helpful 🙂
We are big fans of LMTs. We even work with one!
I had C19 and it gave me a serious case of voice issues! Thank God I had only a cough which wasn’t too bad. But two months after it’s been gone! I still can’t sing properly. Thanks for helping me out! I will give your technics a try! ❤
This is happening to so many people! Voice therapy is often very helpful. So is inhaling steam or nebulized saline. This massage technique will help to reduce compensatory and stress-related muscle tension. Best wishes for a full vocal recovery!
This is amazing. Thank you so much
So glad it's helpful! 🙂
@@VoiceCareWithKaren do you do zoom calls? I havent felt this much relief ever… i teared up after being able to sing for a couple hours no pain last night. I have EDS so it would be a dream to work with you somehow.
@@Justmalaya Yes, we offer virtual therapeutic singing lessons worldwide, and voice therapy services for NY and CA residents. Our website has a contact form that will get you in touch with our Voice Program Coordinator. provoicecare.net
Best of luck to you, and wishing you continued relief of symptoms.
God bless 💖 love from india ... Appreciated 🙏
Glad to hear!
Definitely valid. Worked for me.
Glad you found it useful!
So helpful! Thank you! I feel better after one massage and I will introduce this into a daily routine. I have neck pain after speaking a few days in a row in my workshops. Question: is there an extended version to include the muscles holding the jaws and the back of the neck? I feel like doing a full head massage that would increase relaxation further. Thanks again!
I agree that a general head and neck-area massage would be helpful. However, we don't have a video on this, as we like to customize these techniques for the particular needs of each clients. Check out a group called BackIntelligence.com; they have great videos and handouts on head and neck tension issues. Hope this is helpful!
Thank you Karen for creating this life-changing video. The massage works like magic. I've heard MTD for over a decade and I had no idea how the problem could be treated, but after doing the massage three times I was pleasantly surprised to my original voice.
There seems to be a slight problem, though. The effect of the massage wears off after doing voice over for a couple minutes. Am I to assume that I need to do the massage for an extended period to fully get my original voice back?
The massage is a very helpful tool, but it is only one of many techniques in a complete voice therapy program. It is also possible that you need to do some voice therapy exercises as warm-ups, in addition to the massage, to get more complete and lasting relief. Try some easy lip or tongue trills, humming, or vocalizing through a straw, before voice over work. And be sure to get your vocal cords examined by a fellowship-trained laryngologist, to get a thorough assessment of the problem. Best of luck!
@@VoiceCareWithKaren Thank you so much for responding to my message with a great advice.
I would like you to know that I've gone for endoscopy, and result revealed that my vocal folds are okay. The other thing that the endoscopy results revealed is that acid reflux was the cause of my voice problem. Since then I've taken a host of medications - proton pump inhibitors, pro-kinetics, anti-inflammatory - but there's hasn't been any success. I must also add that I adopted the good behavior of sleeping at least two hours after a meal, and sleeping on pillow, but still there hasn't been success.
The straw exercise at first was okay by later on it began to cause more discomfort and led to more mucous production in the throat.
The humming exercise I would say had minimal impact, and thus decided to forget about it.
The only thing I can say has worked, albeit with a short-lived impact, is the laryngeal massage.
Going forward, I'll incorporate laryngeal massage, humming and other exercises.
In the video above you say that massage should last for five minutes. I was now wondering whether I should do the laryngeal massage for longer duration now that I've had the problem for about twelve years now.
You are underrated people
Thank you!
This could be what i am dealing with right now.
I recently started to sing, with all the info i got about it i was pretty sure i was doing it correct.
I never felt pain or hoarseness in any way, nor i was overusing my voice pretty much.
Then i had this strange pain at the side of the throat which feels more muscular than a classic throat infection/sickness.
I went to the doctor and he said, "you can sing, your vocalchords are looking very good"
Im starting to do this now, or even add it to my daily routine and see if theres improvement.
It sounds like there could be a muscle tension component, although without the full history and examination, there's no way to know for sure. If your doctor is confident that the vocal folds are functioning normally, then working on muscle tension is a good plan of action. Keep in mind that there are many techniques for voice production, relaxation, and breath support that may be needed; laryngeal massage is one very important part. Good luck; I hope it helps you!
@@VoiceCareWithKaren thanks so much for your answer and support. 🙂
@@dynatwenty My pleasure!
Nice!! As a voice professional, I greatly appreciate any tips and hints like this that help me maintain or improve my instrument! cheers
Our pleasure! We are so glad this is helpful for you!
Thank you Karen im a Rock and Roll singer after singing 50 Songs 🎵 of Foreigner and Bon jovi , Journey etc I hope this will help....CHEERS !!!
It will also help if you do the laryngeal massage BEFORE you sing! Use it as a warm-up technique, and as a voice reset technique! Love those high voices :-) Wishing you that Choice Voice!!
Hi First of all thank you soo much for such a detailed video. Im a tutor by profession and after a long term of teaching my throat started paining and i notice flap tissue (Epiglottis) is visible and its creating a tickling sensation while teaching and makes me cough . Can i do this excercise and will it works??And is it ok with visible Epiglottis??
Thanks
You're very welcome! You can certainly try the straw phonation exercises and see if they help. As for the visible epiglottis, that's something that some people just have. It shouldn't cause a problem, but if feels like it recently became an issue, I advise an examination by your ENT or fellowship-trained laryngologist to rule out a problem, especially since you've noticed pain after teaching, which is never supposed to happen (42 years of teaching voice for 6-10 hours a day here...and no pain!). Voice evaluation and voice therapy may be the route to follow. Best of luck!
Thank you Karen, I have been suffering with MTD for over an year now. Glad to have found you. My voice shakes only in the mid range chest voice and lower. I will do these exercises and give back a feedback soon. Hope I find some relief as I am a professional singer from India and very depressed with this lack of control in my muscles.
So happy to be of service; I hope this technique helps you. There are many more techniques that could potentially help you with your MTD. Reach out to our office anytime via our website listed above; we are happy to help.
Professional Voice Care Center | Karen Sussman Thank you Karen, sure I would 😊
So I did these massages and very quickly felt extreme dizziness, light headedness, chest tightness and palpitations. My whole body feels weak and shaky. Clearly, I massaged the carotid by mistake. Or is this normal? It feels like it has been an hour now and the worst of the symptoms are gone. But it is still coming in waves. Less severe each time. I have a lot of tension and tightness in my throat, so I want to do this right. Please help! I posted this on another video, but I just want to be sure I am not doing something wrong or dangerous. I never get massages. The sensation is quite scary
This is definitely not the expected response. You may be hypersensitive, or you may have squeezed a bit. Either way, I would leave the area alone, and check in with your doctor to see what's going on. And any time you touch your neck, my advice would be to do one side at a time, and start with only 20-30 seconds. If you can't tolerate that, then I would advise avoiding this technique. Ask you doctor!
@@VoiceCareWithKaren Okay! Thank you very much :>
Thank you a lot, I understood better all this procedure! very clear!
So glad this was helpful! :-)
this is amazing! how many reps per exercise maam? Than!ks a million! this is an amazing vid, very helpful
I'm glad this is helpful. I would take a total of 3-5 minutes for the entire laryngeal massage, that is the massage, wiggle from side to side, and pulling down. Listen to your body and see if the muscles need more massage before you do the wiggle and pull-down. If you're really tight, some moist heat on the neck first might be helpful.
I've had problem with my voice for a long long time doctors says there's nothing wrong. It's so embarrassing when I need to rise my voice a bit and I can feel my throat getting tight and my voice just loses pitch. Will this work
Laryngeal massage and manipulation can certainly be a component of a comprehensive voice therapy program that could be of great benefit to you. It's not accurate that there's "nothing wrong" as far as what your doctors say. It's just that they can't find a nodule or another mass lesion, but they are not acknowledging the muscle tension dysphonia that you may be experiencing. It's best to be examined by a fellowship-trained laryngologist, who would have expertise in voice problems. Then a speech-language pathologist specializing in voice therapy would be your next step. Try the laryngeal massage and manipulation; you certainly have nothing to lose, and it might help! Stay very well hydrated and breathe steam or nebulized saline. Best of luck!
God bless you with Normal voice ❣️
Omg this works for me ....thankyou so much ❤
That's wonderful! So glad it's helpful!
Thank you for your excellent video.
Glad you liked it! I hope it was helpful!
Yet, it worked wow …. Thanks Auntie!!!😘😘😘😘😘❤️❤️❤️
Haha! That's fantastic!
Thank you for this!! I think I’ve over worked my voice and am starting to lose it. How do you know when it’s best to rest or do vocal exercises to help it?
Vocal rest is only applicable after surgery or vocal fold hemorrhage. The best thing to do is conserve the voice, in other words, say it in less words, choose quiet environments over noisy ones, say it more softly, etc. Voice exercises are nearly always appropriate!
Hello! Thank you so much, how many times a day would you recommend doing this massage and for how long for a 2 year MTD sufferer like myself? Thanks again from Mexico!
Thank you for your question, Alberto. I usually have my clients do this once a day, but many are telling me that they feel better using it twice a day. My best advice is "listen to your body" and use this more often if needed. 5 minutes is usually enough in my experience, but again, listen to your body to see if you need more. In the words of one of my ENT colleagues, it may feel a little worse before it feels better, as you may have released some of the "knots" in the fascia. Some of my clients use moist heat either before or after massage. Of course, there are many laryngeal reposturing techniques, such as the "pull-down" at the end of this procedure. For MTD, these should be part of a comprehensive vocal rehabilitation therapy program with a qualified voice therapist, with periodic re-examinations by a fellowship trained laryngologist. I hope this helps!
@@VoiceCareWithKaren thank u so much 💚
@@lahoriworld1058 Glad to help! 👍
Worked so well thank you so much
So glad to hear it!!
@@VoiceCareWithKaren hi so I just went to do this again and noticed that the right side under my jaw is tender. I probably only massaged that part for 2 min. Why do you think this would be? It wasn’t sore yesterday but it was firmer than the other side so I massaged it more. Thanks
@@imeleventeen it's difficult to say without direct examination. Tenderness under the jaw especially off to the sides could be tongue tension also. Try putting some heat on the area before your next massage, and see if it loosens up. If not, have it checked by a qualified ENT or laryngologist.
@@VoiceCareWithKaren okay thankyou
Wow. Feels good
Good to hear! Spread the word!
What about massaging the hyoid-thyroid membrane with the index and thumb?
That's fine!
Since I have had my thyroid removed, my voice has become different, I don’t even recognize my voice when I sing. I loved to sing but unable now. I am unsure if I can correct this problem.
Thyroid issues and surgery can often affect the voice. Get examined by a fellowship-trained laryngologist who can determine what is causing your voice problem. There are many techniques that can help you, once the actual problem is identified. Best of luck!
I strained my voice very badly when singing over a week ago. I have this strange clicking sensation in my throat if I try to use my voice sometimes..no idea what this could be? Tried these exercises and on the last one- it literally felt like there was something stuck in my throat. Should I continue with these exercises or wait until I heal? (Not sure how long that will take or what I'm done wrong to my throat).
Any info would be great, thanks x
You should absolutely be examined by a fellowship-trained laryngologist (an ENT with an additional year of training in voice), to see what's wrong. No point in self-diagnosing, nor can I tell what's wrong. Muscle tension dysphonia from straining the voice can feel like something stuck in the throat, but so can reflux and a host of other issues. Best to stop the exercises and get examined asap!
very useful thanks
So glad this is helpful!
Thank you
Hi i have a paralysed vocal cord but my voice is around 80% finctional and i can sing also... But my voice gets tired easily... Can suggest some exercises for me pls
I am not permitted to suggest direct therapy exercises, since you are not under my care and I can't fully assess your situation. One suggestion you can try while you speak or sing: turn your head slightly to one side; this will help to close the gap between the vocal folds. The best way to proceed is to be seen by a speech-language pathologist with expertise in voice disorders, who can evaluate you and suggest voice therapy techniques tailored to your specific vocal situation. Best of luck!
Helpful tips. Thank you.
So glad this is helpful!
Wunderbar !
Thank you!
Is this applicable to person
undergone thyroidectomy and
lost voice temperary
This procedure can always help to reduce muscle tension associated with the voice. However, the cause of voice loss following thyroidectomy can be injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. This should be examined by a fellowship-trained laryngologist.
For many years my voice has been breathy, no bass, and had tests, cameras down my throat,no one knows what is going on. I want my voice back. I need to communicate. Any advice?
It may be time for a different laryngologist for a fresh opinion. Have you tried vocal rehabilitation therapy with a qualified voice therapist or vocologist? That would be your next step. Breathiness can be a symptom of many things. Once there is an accurate diagnosis, the proper treatment/training can be administered. Best of luck!
This helped so much!
So glad it was helpful!! Many of our videos will give you additional helpful tips for voice care.
thank you! it really helped
That's great to hear!
I feel brand new! thank you!
Wonderful! So glad to hear!
Did it really work?
@@nf8740 I know this technique is really effective. Perhaps some of our viewers’ comments illustrate this point well. Try it and see!
Thanks for this great video!
So glad to help!
Will this help me get rid of Globus Sensation triggered by singing?
It might. If the globus is a sensory symptom caused by singing with strain or tension, circumlaryngeal massage and manipulation may help. However, the first line of defense would be finding out why singing is causing the globus sensation to begin with. If you work with a qualified singing teacher or singing voice specialist, they should be able to help you "tweak your technique to sing at your peak".
Ok, thank you very much for your swift response, I really appreciate it.
why it feels so good to massage around the area of hyoid bone? I feel so good when i massage it.. Does it mean there is some tension in that area?
Possibly. It could be that the massage is releasing tension from some of the muscles around the larynx. Often when we begin to massage a tense muscle in this area, it feels sore, sensitive, achy, tight, etc. Sometimes it even feels like a lump or bump, which softens after massage. Once we massage and manipulate the structures per the video, this sore feeling reduces. Or it just feels relaxing because it IS relaxing! Everyone should do laryngeal massage and reposturing every day!
This will helps when you have nodules or strained voice?
It should! Try it and see if you feel some relief.
Nice video it really works🎯
Thank you! So glad this has been helpful!
Hello,can i do this for my hoarseness due to gastrointestinal reflux?
You can certainly use laryngeal massage to help relieve the throat muscle tension that may be associated with hoarseness. However, the reflux still needs to be treated with diet and lifestyle changes, and medication if indicated by your physician.
But the last one (the pulling down the larynx) my larynx doesn't come down with fingers but i can move it side to side is this normal right? I mean it shouldn't technically come down with fingers? 🤔
It can come down a bit. As you work the larynx gently from side to side, give it a tug downwards like you're gently pulling the window shade down at night. The muscles will stretch, and the larynx will lower. You can get a sense of how the larynx feels when it lowers by putting your finger on your Adam's apple, and then yawning. You'll feel your larynx drop.
I have tiny nodule on left side of vocal cord.. Doc has advised me to massage my vocal cords no need of medicine he said.. I hve mild dysphonia... Does ur video help me in that please reply
Laryngeal massage can definitely be effective as part of a total program of vocal rehabilitation therapy. If the lesion is truly a nodule, voice therapy techniques can be very effective in resolving it, along with vocal hygiene including hydration, steam inhalation or use of nebulized saline, avoiding caffeine, alcohol, smoking etc., an anti-reflux program if indicated, and avoiding vocal abuses such as yelling. Best of luck!
Will it help with laryngitis?
It should help with the muscle tension associated with laryngitis. There may also be associated improvement in your voice quality, but that depends on what's causing the laryngitis.
Hello, I’m suffering from MTD for 3years now and specifically tongue tension .my voice therapist recommended that I do a larynx massage daily for 45 minutes. I have been doing the massage for 4 days now and whenever I touch my neck I feel so much pain as if there were bruises on my neck
Is that normal? Please help
Hi, Mira. Sorry to hear about your pain. In my practice, I usually advise starting with 5 minutes of circumlaryngeal massage and manipulation/reposturing daily, and work up to twice a day if needed. Using moist heat first may also be helpful. So at this point, 45 minutes seems too long. Also, for tongue tension, there are specific massages for under the tongue, as well as myofascial release techniques for the tongue. This tongue tension has to be addressed; laryngeal massage may not be enough. Try massaging upward into the floor of your mouth, from under your chin, with your thumb, or humming with your tongue sticking out between the lips. Also, we would need to look at underlying contributing factors, like posture, head/neck alignment, tongue thrust, clenching/grinding, and other habits that contribute to oral/vocal tension. Your voice therapist should be able to help you with some of these, but you might also consider the services of a knowledgeable physical therapist, active muscle release therapist, or myofascial release therapist. Best of luck!
@@VoiceCareWithKaren thank you for replying! I have noticed some teeth clenching while sleeping but now it stopped and my tongue can’t fit my jaw but I never thought of it as a problem
I do these things on daily bases:1-massaging my tongue root on my mouth floor and my jaw “it’s where I feel pain the most buy only on the right side,the left side seems like it’s tension free” 2-massaging my throat like grabbing it and pushing it down .3-yoga for improving my back and neck posture and stretching my neck muscles 4-singing while grabbing my tongue 5-acid reflux diet
And since in my country there are no professionals for the MTD I do everything online.
I hope I’m doing everything right and see the results soon
@@mirajardat5583 you sound like you are on the right track. It looks like I need to make some videos to help with jaw and tongue tension :-) Take it more gently with the larynx massage and pull-down.
There’s a kind of clicking that happens in the right side when I download step 5 😐
Do more of the "pull down" and less of the "side to side". It's a pretty common problem.
The "valley" above the middle of the adam's apple feels like the shape of a "v." I am male anatomy btw and I just wanted to ask if I'm at the right place to be massaging?
Yes, that "v" shaped notch is called the thyroid notch, and that's exactly where I start my laryngeal massage.
On my left side of my larynx it will click out of place a have manual pop it back from a past injury.
But real my problem is when massage my right side I feel like I’m drowning!
Like mucus and saliva just drains and suffocates me.. any tips?!
When you feel a click, try less manipulation from side to side, and just concentrate on gently pulling the larynx in a downward direction. As for the draining, I am not sure what that is; have your laryngologist/ENT take a look.
I am suffering from vocal blocks ( disfluency disorders) . Should this massage help me in overcome ?
This massage is not specifically for dysfluency disorders. However, it can't hurt, if you feel it might help to reduce muscle tension in the associated areas.
@@karensussman9703 what should i do for overcome from disfluency disorders ? It may be phyciological speech problem ( speech anxiety) which type of treatment should i take ? Which doctor should i go to treat ? Plss help me ..give me some advice
@@JZ0009 I a not a fluency specialist but there are SLPs who are. I don't know your location, but reach out to American Speech Language Hearing Association (asha.org), or your local or state speech therapy organizations, and they can guide you. Here on Long Island, Lori Melnitsky is an excellent fluency specialist: www.allislandspeech.com/
this is awesome
Thank you! Glad it's helpful!
Please provide transcript in English
I believe the English transcript is there, under the description and chapters.
thank you for this!
So glad it's helpful!
I grew up in an argumentative house so between the ages of 13-18 there was a lot of screaming on my part and i have found that my voice feels really restricted and i cant go to high up without massive strain or cracking. I don’t know if it’s damaged. Will these massages help alleviate that restriction?
Possibly. But the most important and essential first step is to have your vocal mechanism examined by an ENT, preferably a fellowship-trained laryngologist, to see if there is actual damage to the vocal folds, or muscle tension, or both. The massage is certainly a useful component to any voice therapy program, but it's important for you to get information on what is truly wrong. More techniques and/or medical intervention may also be needed. It's wise to find out. Best of luck!
@@VoiceCareWithKaren thank you for the speedy response. I’ll try the exercises to see if that could help it, if it does I’ll definitely go see a specialist.
i lost my head voice out of MTD, can u please suggest sth to get it back?
There are so many reasons that this could happen that a simple answer is not possible without a thorough evaluation. There could be tension, swelling, lesions, weakness, etc. Laryngeal massage and therapeutic voice techniques including cup bubbles and straw phonation may be helpful for the MTD. Make sure you are guided by a laryngologist, a qualified voice therapist, and a knowledgeable voice teacher. Best of luck!
My mother is on dialysis and she loves to sing.. However, when she sings on slightly higher pitch her voice cracks... She is not allowed to drink too much water, could you please share some tips she can use to improve her voice quality
I always defer to the treating physician on medical issues that are outside my scope of practice. If she is not allowed to drink too much water, see if she is able to breathe steam or nebulized saline to moisturize her vocal folds. Also, if she hasn't been singing much, her vocal mechanism may be de-conditioned. She may need to gradually increase her range using gentle sirens on humming, straw, trills, etc. She should be mindful of any physical limitations and follow her doctor's advice.
can these steps help globus sensation ?
Possibly. If the globus sensation is due to muscle tension, you may see improvement. However, globus can also be caused by acid reflux. It can't hurt to try laryngeal massage, but if there is underlying reflux, that needs to be treated with diet and lifestyle changes, as well as possibly medication. The best course of action is to see your ENT and/or laryngologist, as well as possibly a gastroenterologist.
@@VoiceCareWithKaren i took every day morning (for acid reflux)Omeprazole and i see biodecodage psychology and i am taking deanxit those can help me
@@asfsf6625 This sounds like you are being very proactive :-) I see that Deanxit is banned in numerous countries. I do not like to give advice on medications, so please consult with a physician on that. Try the laryngeal massage as a component of your total wellness program.
@@VoiceCareWithKaren i saw ENT and gastroenterologist who advised me to take these medication
hi does this also work for healing vocal cord paralysis (laryngeal nerve damage)?
It won’t heal vocal cord paralysis, unfortunately. But if there is a secondary muscle tension as a response to the underlying primary problem of vocal cord paralysis, the circumlaryngeal massage will help to reduce some of that tension. There are other techniques to help people compensate, at least to an extent, for the paralyzed vocal cord. A qualified voice therapist can work with you to find which combination of techniques will be the most helpful for you!
i’m a girl 16 and having so many voice cracks while talking i hope this helps
There are so many reasons why a voice can "crack". This technique is certainly an important part of a voice training/voice therapy program, but an ENT should examine your vocal cords to see why your voice is cracking.
I subscribed what a wealth of information right here, thank you for your videos.
You're very welcome! So glad they're helpful!
what if you have a slanted highwood bone. My highwood bone tilt to the right more than evenly. I need help with this. It also affect my singing because i feel the pressure in my throat sometimes.
This is something that should definitely be looked at by an otolaryngologist, preferably a fellowship-trained laryngologist (voice doctor). Perhaps it isn't really the tilt of the hyoid bone that's the problem, maybe it's muscle tension that's causing the throat pressure. Get it checked and then get the help you need for it, whether it's voice therapy, physical therapy, etc. You can also try the laryngeal massage and see if it helps. Good luck!!
Hello!👋
Does this method also work for those who had undergone a radiation therapy?
It is always wise to check with your doctor, but once cleared, we have gotten good results even with patients who have had radiation.
Okay..thank you 🙂
I have puberphonia. I am unable to shout and speak louder. Can you please suggest some excercise and massage?
Puberphonia may have a muscle tension component, so for that, laryngeal massage may be helpful. However, puberphonia requires specialized exercises to help the vocal folds get used to the new adjustment for lower pitch and more powerful voice. I'm not permitted to suggest those techniques without actually evaluating a client and reading the medical report. When you do the laryngeal massage and you pull down the larynx at the end, try speaking while holding the larynx down. See if you get a deeper and fuller sound.
Feels a little crunchy when I move the larynx from side to side (gently of course)
I always advise my clients to focus more on pulling down, and do less from side to side. See if that helps!
Can this massage helpfull for stammering child??
Only in that it is a relaxing procedure. It is not a specific treatment for stammering/stuttering, however. A qualified speech-language pathologist with expertise in stuttering may be able to help.
@@VoiceCareWithKaren i start her tharapy 2 month ago.she guides me about exercises but i want to know much more about massage.will u guide me about it??
@@zaraaneel7822 please contact our office through our website contact form: provoicecare.net/contact/. Please Note: we are licensed to deliver direct services only in New York and California, even if they are virtual.
Can this cause any damage if done wrong?
I suppose that if any massage or manipulation is done forcefully without proper guidance, there could be discomfort. No one has ever reported an issue beyond mild muscular discomfort, likely caused by releasing some of the muscle tension. There should be a feeling of less tension generally when you finish. The video provides a good model to follow. The rocking motion should be done gently and in a very small excursion if you are concerned. If you have any trepidation at all, then work with a qualified voice therapist who can guide you, to give you more confidence.
i have to speak on the phone 3 hours a day. how many times should i do this? im a salesman so i have to make sure my voice dont start hurting in the middle of a pitch.
Start with once before you start making your calls, and once after you finish, or in the evening after work. Try it on a non-work day first to see how you do. Then you can judge how often you can tolerate it in one day. One to two times a day to start is fine. Also do easy humming or straw slides on "hoo" (up and down) between calls to relax and reset your vocal mechanism.
@@VoiceCareWithKaren wow. thanks, this means a lot to me.
@@billdeng9050 I hope it helps! Also, voice pain is never normal. If you haven't already been seen by a fellowship-trained laryngologist, an ENT with a voice specialty, I would strongly advise it!
@@VoiceCareWithKaren i think thats just because i have to constantly switch my tonalities and not getting enough air during my pitch. hopefully it will go back to normal after my larynx stays lowered.
Hi
Thank you for your very good training
I am a singer
But the problem I have is that when I do this massage, my voice sounds great for a day and I feel free. But after that, everything goes back to the way it was before! What do you think about this? Do I have any habits? Which makes me go back to the previous state? Can it be related to the pain in my back because my job is the software engineer and I work with the computer a lot of the time and this always causes pain in my neck. Can my job cause problems in Stretch the muscles of my neck and finally the larynx?
tnx
It's very encouraging that you are getting a positive result after you do the laryngeal massage. However, it sounds like you need to continue to use it on a daily basis. There may be numerous other factors that cause your voice to go back to the way it was before, including vocal technique, hydration, phonotraumatic behaviors like talking over noise or shouting over a distance, stress, etc. Yes, the way we align or misalign ourselves in front of a computer screen can adversely affect our vocal function. Look at our blogs on posture and alignment, laptop screen position, etc. for some helpful hints.
@@VoiceCareWithKaren
thanks for the reply
Just one thing
During the massage, my doctor tells me that your apple turned a little to the left and with a painful massage, he tries to put my apple back in its place.
I wanted to know if this is the only way to get my apple back to normal? Or why should this happen to me at all? And whether this can be related to the problem of pressure in my voice?
@@miladmazaheri9054 it's difficult for me to comment, since I'm not able to see what the doctor was doing. What we try to do during the laryngeal massage is release muscle tension and encourage a lower position of the larynx through gentle reposturing in a downward direction. I would not recommend anything forceful at all. I do agree that tension surrounding the laryngeal mechanism can contribute to a feeling of pressure in the voice. So can poor posture or misuse of the voice. In addition to a qualified voice therapist, a physical therapist may be able to help you, especially one trained in myofascial release therapy.
My voice isn't clear whenever I say something to someone they say can you repeat that again. Will this technique help me
If your voice is unclear because of muscle tension, this technique may help. Of course, there are many reasons why someone might ask us to repeat ourselves (e.g., voice too soft, not articulating words clearly, breathy, low, or weak voice, etc.). Try laryngeal massage and see if it helps, If not, a qualified voice therapist should be able to assess the problem and help you to solve the problem. Good luck!
5:36
I think there is a psychological aspects on this
Yes, absolutely! A huge contributing factor to laryngeal tension is emotional stress. So, even if you can't eliminate the stress altogether, at least with this technique, you can reduce the effects of stress on the voice!
I'm a girl, but my voice looks like a man. And it makes me very sad. Please, what do I do😭💔..?
I apologize; I don't have enough information to answer a complex question like this on this forum. There are many variables that go into this to determine the course of action: possibilities include vocal fold swelling or pathology, muscle tension, hormonal issues, and so on. My advice would be to get an examination by a fellowship-trained laryngologist, and then see a voice therapist if appropriate. Best of luck!
Look. This is a easy way to hurt yourself horribly. Please DO NOT DO THIS! where is your credentials because your are going to get someone hurt. And damage so much in someone’s throat.
We're sorry you feel that way. My credentials are listed under the video. I'm a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist and vocologist with 42 years' experience, and was trained in this technique by the person who originated it. We've treated about 13,000 individuals, and have gotten excellent results. We teach our clients to do the massage at home using the same procedure that you see in the video.
how do you think we could get hurt ?