We don’t realize how important our voice is until something threatens to take it away. Any number of conditions can impact the quality of our voice, resulting in symptoms such as hoarseness, pitch changes, excessive breathiness, vocal fatigue, a raspy or cracking tone or reduced volume.
One of the most common offenders to voice health are vocal nodules, benign growths of the vocal cords that are caused by overuse of the voice, smoking, and a number of other factors. Initially, soft, swollen spots appear, but with repetitive abuse, callus-like nodules develop. Some people have vocal polyps, which are stalk-like growths on one or both vocal cords and can be triggered by a single vocally abusive event. Others may have vocal paralysis, where one or both vocal cords is paralyzed and causes problems with voice quality, breathing and swallowing.
The human voice can also be affected by ailments as basic as the common cold or a diagnosis such as Parkinson’s disease, where vocal fold bowing is taking place. It’s estimated that 89 percent of Parkinson’s patients will experience some form of speech and voice problems, such as reduced volume, decreased pitch range and/or slurred articulation of certain sounds. Fortunately, our skilled speech-language pathologists can show you a variety of solutions, exercises, and programs to help you speak more like your old self again!
Our dedicated team of speech-language pathologists are specially trained in speech therapy as it relates to cognitive-communication issues (how you listen, process, focus, remember, and communicate). We are also nationally certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, are nationally recognized by the Brain Injury Association of America and are Certified Brain Injury Specialists (CBIS). We are licensed to practice in both North Dakota and Minnesota. We believe every patient deserves the best treatment and support we can offer in every single contact and interaction with us.
We recognize that no two people have the same needs and that everyone has different learning styles. That’s why we like to call our approach “the Progressive way,” which means we will happily customize treatment plans to meet the unique needs of the individual and their family. We also believe in “the right fit” between patient and therapist, so will make every effort to match you with a clinician who connects with you, understands you, and utilizes a therapy style that is comfortable for you.
Depending on the goals you wish to accomplish and the learning pace that is most comfortable for you, we will arm you with the evidence-based strategies, proven skills, and ample support you need to feel more organized, prepared, and effective. Therapy strategies may range from recommendations for specific tools (such as timers or planners), one-on-one brainstorming and problem-solving to address concerns, therapeutic activities as well as computer trials or worksheets to help strengthen cognitive and executive functions like attention, memory, and planning.
We know that working on cognitive-communication issues is hard work and that it can be easy to feel defeated or overwhelmed by the challenges of building a more efficient brain. However, you will not be in this alone. We are not just speech-language pathologists; we are fellow human beings who care about you, your journey, and your success. We don’t want an appointment to feel like you’ve been sent to the principal’s office. Instead, you’ll find a comfortable space where you’ll feel listened to and understood. And because humor makes everything more bearable, be prepared to laugh and joke a bit too!