Specializing in the care and treatment of the voice & upper airway through compassionate, individualized and evidence-based care
LOCATED IN STRONGSVILLE, OH
We understand that effective voice therapy is always individualized and dynamic, tailored to your unique needs and life demands.
At Voice Care Consultants, located in Cleveland, OH, we specialize in voice and upper airway evaluation and treatment.
Our highly-trained voice therapists provide individualized care using the latest evidence-based practices.
We prioritize creating a supportive, gentle and empathetic environment. Our team values confidentiality and takes pride in delivering care that is tailored to your unique needs.
Whether you are recovering from a vocal injury, seeking relief from chronic cough or breathing issues, or simply aiming to enhance your voice for personal or professional reasons, we are here to help.
VOICE THERAPY AND PROFESSIONAL VOICE SERVICES IN NORTHEAST OHIO
Evaluation, Treatment and Education
Voice Therapy
When you experience a voice problem such as hoarseness, throat pain, or vocal fatigue, voice therapy may be warranted. Voice therapy is sometimes referred to as ‘physical therapy for the voice,’ as the voice box is comprised of muscles, ligaments, and cartilages.
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A voice therapy program will typically involve:
Strategies to modify your voice use to promote recovery
Education on maximizing your vocal health
Exercises for strengthening and rebalancing the voice musculature.
Most exercises require you to practice daily, and you will meet with your voice pathologist regularly for additional training or modifications.
Professional Voice Care
As a professional voice user, you have more vocal demands than the average person, which may make you more susceptible to a vocal injury.
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Voice therapy for the professional voice user often includes:
Extensive education on establishing excellent vocal health
Counseling on modifications to minimize your vocal load at work
Specialized voice exercises to promote strength and healing
Vocal reconditioning to bridge the gap between rehabilitation and high-level vocal demands
From the boardroom to the the classroom to the stage, we at Voice Care Consultants commit to helping you return to work safely and with confidence.
Vocal Cord Dysfunction
Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) may exist in isolation or in combination with asthma or other breathing disorders. For young athletes, VCD may be misdiagnosed as asthma, with inhalers proving ineffective.
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We know that therapy is the only treatment for this type of upper airway disorder. Therapy for VCD or dysfunctional breathing mechanics may involve identifying patterns and triggers for breathing difficulties, such as exercise or strong scents, training breathing exercises, and implementing mindfulness techniques.
With the help of your voice pathologist, you will learn to implement this efficient breathing in more and more challenging situations. Therapy for VCD is typically very effective, with patients noticing improvement in just a few sessions.
Chronic Cough
A chronic, forceful cough can be frustrating and debilitating. You may have seen multiple specialists, undergone invasive testing, and tried various medications with little relief.
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Over time, more coughing results in more laryngeal irritation, and the cough worsens. This is where we come in. In tandem with any recommended medical management, therapy will include:
Identifying patterns and triggers
Establishing lifestyle modifications
Training strategies to reduce laryngeal irritation and suppress cough
Neurogenic Voice Disorders
Neurogenic voice disorders are voice problems that originate in the central or peripheral nervous systems. These include, but are not limited to, Parkinson’s Disease, laryngeal tremor and Spasmodic Dysphonia.
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Voice Pathologists working with clients with neurogenic voice disorders have specialized training and certification in evidence-based voice treatment protocols, including LSVT LOUD, a voice treatment program for Parkinson's Disease. For Spasmodic Dysphonia, patients often achieve the most benefit with a combination of Botox treatment with the ENT and a voice therapy program. Voice therapy for neurogenic voice disorders can be offered in-person or remotely via telehealth.
Frequency and length of treatment are variable and depend on the type of treatment and the needs of the client.
Pediatric Voice Therapy
Pediatric voice disorders have broadly similar causes as adult voice disorders; however, we know that children are not miniature adults.
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Pediatric voice therapy requires specialized knowledge of the structure and function of the developing child, ability to modify treatment tools for various ages, and knowledge of pediatric language and executive function to help the client achieve lasting change.
Your first voice therapy appointment will include a thorough case history, acoustic and aerodynamic assessment that is tailored to the age of your child and establishing a treatment plan. Goals are ultimately determined by you as the family with the support of the voice pathologist. A pediatric voice therapy program typically includes:
Parent and family education
Voice exercises to strengthen and rebalance the muscles, ligaments and cartilages of the system. These are always tailored to the specific age and specific needs of the child
Incorporation of executive function therapy to promote new voice habits
A whole lot of fun!
Pediatric voice therapy sessions are typically weekly to every two weeks, but frequency and length of treatment will depend on the needs of the child and family.
Gender-affirming Communication Training
Gender-affirming communication training is a subspecialty of voice therapy with the goal of helping you align your voice with your gender identity.
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While there is overlap with traditional voice treatment approaches, voice pathologists treating gender-diverse clients have specialized training and education in the specific communication patterns that impact gender identity, as well as an appreciation for the sensitive and patient-centered nature of this care.
The first voice therapy session always begins with a case history and acoustic and aerodynamic assessment of voice and then continues with exploring the many aspects of voice production (such as pitch, prosody, and resonance) and non-verbal communication. Goals of communication training are always determined by you as the client with the support of the voice pathologist and may evolve over the course of therapy. As gender-affirming communication training is individualized, the number of treatment sessions and length of time between treatment sessions is variable. Gender-affirming communication training is offered in-person or via telehealth.
Manual Therapy
Many voice and upper airway problems have a component of muscle tension or fascial restriction and require a hands-on approach. There are multiple manual therapy modalities that may benefit the voice therapy client.
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Appropriate use of these modalities requires ongoing education and specialized certification.
CranioSacral therapy (CST) is a gentle touch modality aimed at releasing restrictions in the craniosacral system, thereby impacting all body systems and reducing pain and dysfunction.
Myofascial Release therapy (MFR) is another light touch modality specifically addressing the fascia (connective tissue) to eliminate pain and restore motion.
Frequency and length of treatment are variable and depend on the modality and needs of the client.
MEET YOUR VOICE PATHOLOGIST
Jennifer Kegyes, M.A., CCC-SLP
Founder, Voice Pathologist
Welcome to Voice Care Consultants. I am Jennifer Kegyes, a speech therapist with over 15 years of experience as a voice, swallowing, and upper airway specialist.
I completed my undergraduate degree in Hearing, Speech and Language Sciences at Ohio University, where I simultaneously studied voice and horn in the school of music. I then completed my graduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Kent State University.
I started my career at Southwest General Health Center, where I worked in acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, and pediatric outpatient rehabilitation. I then became a full-time voice and swallowing specialist at The Blaine Block Institute for Voice Analysis and Rehabilitation (BBIVAR) in Dayton, OH, and the Professional Voice Center of Greater Cincinnati (ProVoice). During this time, I had the privilege of expanding my clinical skills in all aspects of voice, swallowing and upper airway evaluation and treatment, including training under singing voice specialist Wendy LeBorgne, PhD, CCC-SLP. After returning home to the Northeast Ohio region, I was appointed their telehealth treatment specialist, exclusively seeing patients online.
Bringing Expert Voice Therapy to Northeast Ohio
Recognizing the growing need for specialized voice care here, I opened Voice Care Consultants. As a private practice voice pathologist, I find the freedom to be creative and holistic in my approach, whether I am meeting with clients online or in the clinic.
Voice problems are often complex and multifaceted, and I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of care. I take a whole-person, patient-centered approach, empowering patients to take ownership of their voice therapy journey.
Get started with Voice Care Consultants
Voice Care Consultants provides specialized voice therapy and professional voice services in person in Cleveland, Ohio and online via telehealth. Contact us today for a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your voice therapy needs.