Speech therapy exercises for laryngeal nodules in children

Speech therapy exercises for laryngeal nodules in children Laryngeal nodules are one of the most common vocal problems in children that can affect the quality of speech, singing and even the child's self-confidence. Fortunately, by using **speech therapy exercises for laryngeal nodules in children**, the development of this problem can be prevented to a great extent and even improved in many cases. In this article, we will deal with this issue in a complete and practical way. 1. Familiarity with laryngeal nodules in children Laryngeal nodules are small bumps that form on the vocal cords. These bumps are usually **caused by improper or excessive use of sound**. Children are naturally energetic and may shout, laugh or sing a lot. These behaviors can cause nodules. Nodules are usually benign and not cancerous, but **can cause hoarseness, vocal fatigue, and reduced speech clarity.** In many cases, parents notice changes in the child's voice; such as: - Hoarse voice - Stopping and connecting the sound while talking - Difficulty speaking for a long time - Fatigue after a few minutes of talking If these symptoms continue, the child should be taken to a speech therapist or ear, nose and throat specialist for a detailed examination. Because children's larynxes are still growing, early treatment can prevent the problem from progressing. At this stage, **speech therapy exercises for laryngeal nodules in children** play a very important role and can speed up the healing process without the need for surgery. Common signs and symptoms of laryngeal nodule Timely diagnosis of laryngeal nodule can make a big difference in the treatment process. One of the first steps to start **speech therapy exercises for laryngeal nodules in children** is to know the symptoms accurately. Some common symptoms include: - **Voice violence:** The child's voice sounds hoarse and harsh. - **Coughing or clearing the throat:** The child often feels that something is stuck in his throat. - **Decreased vocal range:** The child cannot sing or produce loud sounds like before. - **Intermittent hoarseness:** The sound may be good and bad during the day. - **Change in breathing pattern:** Sometimes the child has shallower breathing due to trying to speak. Symptoms may vary from child to child, but should be investigated if they persist for more than two weeks. It is important that **the child learns to protect his voice** and parents are also role models and supporters. In speech therapy, after the diagnosis, the therapist designs a program including **voice exercises, voice health education and speech pattern correction**. These programs are adjusted according to the child's age and ability to maintain his cooperation and motivation. Causes of laryngeal nodules in children Knowing the causes is a key step in treatment. ** Laryngeal nodules in children** are caused more by vocal behaviors than in adults. Some of the important reasons are: - **Continuous yelling and screaming:** This is the most common cause. - ** Improper use of breathing during speech: ** Many children use shallow breathing when speaking, which causes more pressure on the vocal cords. - **Frequent respiratory infections:** Long colds and chronic inflammation of the throat can worsen the condition. Allergies: Respiratory allergies cause constant coughing and clearing of the throat, which increases the pressure on the larynx. - **Noisy environment:** Children who are in noisy kindergartens or schools, have to speak louder. By identifying the causes, it is easy to design a suitable preventive and therapeutic program. One of the main goals of **speech therapy exercises for laryngeal nodules in children** is to teach healthy voice behaviors so that new damage does not occur. The role of speech therapy in improving laryngeal nodules Speech therapy is one of the most effective and non-invasive methods for treating laryngeal nodules. **Speech therapy exercises for laryngeal nodules in children** help the child to: - Reduce the pressure on the vocal cords. - Learn to breathe correctly while speaking. - Avoid harmful sound patterns. - Recover your confidence in speaking. In speech therapy sessions, the speech therapist usually uses a combination of **voice health education, breathing exercises and special speech exercises**. These exercises are designed in such a way that the child feels playful and fun to increase his cooperation. For example, the child learns to **speak in a natural voice instead of shouting**, or practice diaphragmatic breathing. Parents are also taught how to provide a calmer environment and reinforce healthy patterns at home. Effective breathing exercises to reduce laryngeal pressure One of the most basic parts of **speech therapy exercises for laryngeal nodules in children** is breathing exercises. Correct breathing can reduce the pressure on the vocal cords and speed up the healing process. Some important breathing exercises are: 1. Diaphragmatic (abdominal) breathing:** - The child sits or lies on a chair. He puts one hand on his stomach and the other hand on his chest. - Breathe deeply through the nose until the stomach rises (not the chest). - Then slowly exhales through the mouth. - This exercise is repeated 5 to 10 times. 2. **Controlled inhalation and exhalation:** - The child breathes deeply through the nose while his lips are closed. - Then he exhales with a "sssss" sound. - This exercise strengthens air flow control. 3. **Balloon practice:** - The child tries to inflate a balloon with controlled exhalation. - This work helps to strengthen respiratory muscles. 4. Breathing in harmony with speech: - The child learns to breathe before speaking and to use it while speaking, not after. These exercises, along with other methods, help the child put less pressure on the larynx and produce a softer and healthier voice. Speech techniques to reduce voice pressure Successful treatment of laryngeal nodule is not possible without correcting the way the child speaks. In this phase of **speech therapy exercises for laryngeal nodules in children**, the therapist focuses on **speech techniques** so that the child learns to speak without damaging the vocal cords. Some of these techniques include: - **Using a comfortable voice (Easy Onset):** In this way, the child learns to start speaking slowly and without pressure. Example: instead of saying "Aaaabad" with pressure, say "A...bad" softly and stretched. - **Decreasing sound intensity:** The child learns to speak in a moderate voice and avoid shouting. - **Using breathing stops:** The child is taught to take breaths between sentences and not to express the speech all at once. - **Practice of gentle whispering:** Soft whispering reduces the tension of the larynx muscles. - **Audio games:** The therapist may use games or poetry to teach the techniques in a fun way. These techniques are most effective when the child practices and consolidates them in everyday life. Parents play a key role in reminding and reinforcing good habits. Teaching voice health to children and parents One of the important principles in the management of laryngeal nodules is **voice hygiene**. Without observing it, even the best **speech therapy exercises for laryngeal nodules in children** may not be fully effective. The most important points of voice health are: - Avoid shouting and screaming - 💧 Drinking enough water during the day to keep the vocal chords moist - 🚫 refraining from constantly clearing the throat (drinking water or swallowing saliva instead) - 💤 Voice rest in case of voice fatigue - 🌿 Creating a quiet and low-noise environment at home - Treatment of allergies and respiratory infections, if any Also, parents should be good role models. If the child sees the parent also speaking in a calm and controlled voice, he is likely to learn faster. The therapist usually gives parents a notebook of recommendations and a voice care checklist to make the therapy process more structured. Stretching exercises and relaxation of neck and larynx muscles One of the aggravating factors of laryngeal nodule is **neck and larynx muscle tension**. For this reason, the speech therapist dedicates a part of the **speech therapy exercises for laryngeal nodules in children** program to relaxation. Sample exercises: 1. **Slow turning of the head:** - The child slowly turns his head left and right. - Then he bends his head back and forth. - This work releases neck tension. 2. Laryngeal massage: - The therapist or parents gently massage the area under the chin and neck with their fingers. - This exercise helps the blood flow and relaxation of the vocal chords. 3. **Shoulder stretching exercise:** - The shoulders are slowly raised and then released. - This movement reduces the overall tension. 4. **Calmation with breathing:** - By deep and slow breathing, the child tries to spread the feeling of relaxation throughout the body. These exercises make the vocal chords to be in a better condition and the damage is less. The role of the family environment in the success of treatment Laryngeal nodule treatment is not limited to speech therapy sessions. **The family environment plays an important role in the success of speech therapy exercises for laryngeal nodules in children**. Some key points in this regard: - **Encouraging the use of a quiet voice:** Parents should remind the child to speak in an appropriate voice. - **Being a role model:** The child learns by imitation, so parents should also speak in a natural and gentle voice. - **Reduction of noise at home:** If the house is noisy, the child raises his voice unintentionally. - **Scheduling exercises at home:** Doing breathing and speaking exercises at home will stabilize healthy voice habits. - **Emotional encouragement and support:** Treatment may take several months; Parental support keeps the child's motivation high. It is also better for the family to participate in therapy sessions to learn the techniques properly and to be able to strengthen them at home. The role of school and teachers in the treatment of laryngeal nodules A child spends a lot of time at school, so cooperation between teachers and school staff is very important. One of the important parts of **speech therapy exercises for laryngeal nodules in children** is teaching the child's educational environment. Effective solutions: - 📢 **Inform the teachers:** It should be explained to them that the child should not shout or talk too much in a noisy environment. - 🪑 **Assigning the right position in the class:** Sitting in the front rows helps the child to communicate without having to speak loudly. - 🔕 **Noise Management:** Reducing environmental noise makes the child speak in a natural voice. - ⏳ **Audio break times:** If the class is long, the child should have a few minutes audio break. - 🤝 **Cooperation with parents and therapist:** Communication between teachers and the treatment team accelerates the healing process. By establishing this coordination, the probability of symptoms returning decreases and the treatment becomes more stable. The duration and process of laryngeal nodule treatment with speech therapy Each child's treatment process is different. But on average, **laryngeal nodule treatment with speech therapy** takes between **8 and 12 weeks**. In more severe cases, it may be longer. General treatment steps: 1. **Initial evaluation:** Examination of voice condition, hearing, vocal habits and breathing condition. 2. **Personalized program design:** Based on the age, severity of the nodule and the child's needs. 3. **Speech and breathing exercises:** Weekly sessions at the clinic and daily practice at home. 4. **Supervision and review:** Check the progress and modify the techniques. 5. **Stabilization and prevention of return:** Long-term training for children and parents. The success of treatment depends on the cooperation of the child, parents, therapist and educational environment. In many cases, the nodules will improve with **speech therapy exercises for laryngeal nodules in children** without the need for surgery. Preventing the return of laryngeal nodules after treatment One of the important challenges after treatment is **preventing the return of laryngeal nodules**. If the child returns to incorrect vocal patterns, there is a chance that the nodule will develop again. To prevent this from happening: - Speech therapy exercises should be done **continuously**, even after recovery. - The child must learn to control his voice in emotional or noisy situations. - Parents and teachers should continue to monitor his vocal behavior. - The therapist usually recommends monthly follow-up sessions to check the condition. - Strengthening breathing skills and relaxing the muscles of the larynx helps to reduce the possibility of recurrence Speech therapy exercises for laryngeal nodules in children include teaching the patient the correct breathing and speaking techniques. With speech therapy exercises, the pressure on the vocal cords can be reduced. Laryngeal nodules are usually treated with voice rest, speech therapy, and in some cases, surgery. **Contact Del Ara speech therapy and occupational therapy clinic for consultation** Objectives of speech therapy for laryngeal nodules in children: - Reducing excessive use of the voice: teaching correct breathing and speaking techniques to reduce pressure on the vocal cords improves laryngeal nodules in children. - Strengthening the muscles of the larynx: performing special speech therapy exercises strengthens the muscles of the larynx and improves the coordination of the muscles of the larynx. - Improving voice quality: speech therapy corrects incorrect voice patterns and teaches the production of correct sounds. - Teaching relaxation techniques: speech therapy reduces muscle tension and helps the child to relax more while speaking.