Voice

Many of us take our voices for granted each and every day.  I know that I love the voices of children!  They are so innocent...well, most of the time!  My children love to sing, and I could listen to their voices all day!
The human voice has a number of features:
  • Pitch - which can vary between high and low during speech.
  • Volume - which can vary between loud and soft. Loudness during speech varies to show emphasis and emotion.
  • Quality is what the voice sounds like. The quality of a voice may be described clear, croaky, strained, hoarse, breathy or rough.
  • Resonance - some children may sound like they are speaking through a blocked nose (hyponasal) while other children may sound like they have too much air coming down the nose during speech (hypernasal).​
A voice disorder is when the quality of a person's voice is noticeably different to that of others their age and sex. Children can have many types of voice disorders. About 4-6 children out of every 100 have a voice disorder.  Most of them are harmless and are caused by excessive shouting and loud talking, excessive use of certain harsh voice 'sound effects' during play, or they can be caused by common childhood infections.

Your child's voice may sound harsh, hoarse, or they may have 'lost' their voice entirely.  They could have a pitch that is too high or low, too loud, or too nasal. If you are concerned about your child's voice, please see your local doctor.

A poor voice quality may make it hard for a child to communicate effectively, and may make them lose self confidence or affect the way other people see them. 

Points to Remember:
  •  Most voice disorders are harmless and disappear on their own or with professional help. Encourage your child to 'rest' their voice by not talking loudly or shouting and keeping their throat moist by frequently sipping on fluids (especially after an infection).
  • Your child may need an assessment by a specialist doctor (otolaryngologist) and a speech pathologist if they have a hoarse or weak voice that is getting worse or not getting better.
  • Some voice disorders need surgery although this is uncommon.
Missy McBride

Izard County School District
P.O. Box 115
5068 North AR 9, Brockwell, AR 72517
Phone 870-258-7700 | Fax 870-258-3140