Muscle Tension Dysphonia: How Can You Tell If You Have MTD?
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- Опубликовано: 6 ноя 2019
- Learn about muscle tension dysphonia symptoms, causes and how to tell if you have muscle tension.
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You may know muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) under other names, such as spastic dysphonia, hyperfunctional voice disorder or other names. In this video, I will be describing muscle tension dysphonia causes, symptoms (such as hoarseness, limited range, etc.) and signs (for example globus sensation). I will also explain how MTD is recognized and all the steps that need to be taken to arrive at the correct diagnosis, including muscle tension dysphonia laryngoscopy, and more specifically muscle tension dysphonia stroboscopy. Muscle tension recovery time varies greatly but the sooner you recognize MTD, the faster the recovery process.
Katarina H.
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Thank you for watching? Do you think that you may have muscle tension dysphonia? have you been diagnosed with MTD? Let me know in the comments below.
@Jim Carrey , that is interesting. I am sorry to hear that you have these troubles. Have you talked to your doctor about it? What have you tried to deal with this issue?
@Jim Carrey I would encourage you to make an appointment with a specialist. It is important to know how your voice functions. Also, swallowing assessment may be a good idea too.
Katarina H. Hello I have been losing my voice gradually over the last 3 months but these last 2 weeks my voice is so super hoarse, I truly struggle to communicate. I had a laryngoscope and no nodules but did have swelling which they thought could be do to reflux. I feel like all of a sudden my voice is so so, to completely gone, all in the same day. I am so lost.
Hi Katrina
Thank you for the video
I have struggling with a voice issue since 10 months and now I cannot speak at all..
Do you have gmail so I can send you my voice sample?
Thank you
Katarina H. I definitely relate to all of this. At times my voice is fine-deep, loud, and relaxed. But at other times my voice is high, hoarse and it’s difficult to speak, especially at a loud level. I feel like I have to constantly clear my throat. It seems like my voice sounds different from day to day and it really bothers me as a big portion of my career is public speaking. I’ve never been able to figure it out until taking some personal training courses which covers anatomy and various distortion syndromes such as upper crossed, which affects the muscles of the neck. Looking forward to the other videos on treatment. Perhaps it will help me in the future! Much appreciated.
A year ago I was diagnosed with MTD. As I read these comments, I felt like I was never going to be fine again. However, it has been 3 months since I last felt pain while talking and I'm back on track with recording my music. After recovering from that condition in seven months, I feel much better now. It's important to find a great speech therapist and yoga practices also helped me a lot. Never give up hope. I know it is frustrating, but eventually, it will get better. Having no pain whatsoever gave me a sense of responsibility to share this with people who are suffering from the same condition as myself. The information and practices I was able to get from this channel helped me a lot with regard to my condition and the manual therapy. You can find some of my old comments in this section.
Hi Amir! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. I am happy to hear that you are pain-free! If I can ask you, what was the biggest aha-moment or what was the one thing that really helped you overcome your voice problem? Thank you!
@@healthyvoicetips I took 30 sessions of manual therapy with a qualified speech therapist in 30 weeks, and my ENT doctor evaluated my progress every three months until he found no tension while I was talking. On this channel, I watched videos about manual therapy and my speech therapist recommended that I do it twice a day. Before singing, I warmed up my voice and cooled it down after practicing. Obviously, I did less practicing than I did previously.
Man thanks for sharing. I’m a recording artist and I blew my voice out at a show 6 weeks ago and I didn’t know how serious it was. I went to the after party and continued talking loudly and my voice hasn’t recovered. I even went a whole week with barely any talking at it didn’t help. It’s kind of discouraging that I could be looking at a 7 month recovery to performing and recording again though. I’m glad you are back on track
@@ethanluce1425 Thanks for your kind words. I hope you'll feel better soon
@Axl I hope you feel better soon
I was diagnosed 2yrs ago, after yrs of not knowing why my singing voice was failing . I do alot of therapy exercise and breathing now , really helped me. But mainly just relaxing and sticking my tongue out and just leaving it out relaxing and gentle nasul humming at same time has improved me lots, I spend at least an hr a day doing this at different times . I'm getting great results. Not only playing guitar now, but also singing again after yrs.
I always felt the tension was at the back . of my tongue, that's where I felt that lumpy sensation. The formentioned exercises have worked wonders.
It looks silly to do. Just try to leave your tongue hanging out and relax and gentle humming. It has so worked for me..
Good luck fellow mtds.
Sometimes, the silliest and simples exercises work wonders. Thank you for sharing your story.
This sounds exactly what I've been suffering from for the past five years. Something that has brought me a lot of sorrow since I can no longer sing well.
I know that it stems from anxiety but really don't know how to deal with it since I haven't been able to reduce my anxiety enough (diagnosed with GAD).
Thanks for giving the issue a name so that I can look for further information about it!
Emotions are a huge part of voice problems. I suggest that you talk to a voice specialist to give you a proper diagnosis for your voice issues. Then, you can get appropriate advice on how to deal with it.
Henrik Petersson bro i feel you i have the exact same problem. ever since i got bad anxiety since the last few months my voice is always tight and strained and i can’t talk properly anymore. even breathing is hard it’s like i’ve forgotten how to breathe. i have no idea who to talk about this with but it’s good to know i’m not the only one ✊🏽
YaDavv Same here. Also diagnosed with GAD. Had it for the past 4 years or so. My voice is extremely quiet because of it and even when it feels like I'm shouting, the people across from me can hardly hear me. It seriously feels like there's a threshold that I can't speak above to save my life. It also feels like I can't find a comfortable pitch and/or volume to talk at, so i tend to switch my pitch or volume mid sentence out of anxiety/tension.
I have GAD and panic disorder and my ENT told me that anxiety doesn’t cause MTD and that it’s usually vocal fatigue that causes it. I have been vocal healthy and free from MTD for a year now and I still have the same anxiety problems
Read my comment at top of pile,
So interesting. I think my daughter has developed this. She use to love to sing and now it hurts and she feels tension. I can't wait to share this with her.
Hi Mandy, I am sorry to hear that your daughter has trouble singing now! It is worthwhile looking into the reasons why it hurts. It is something that can be solved! Let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you again for sharing your knowledge Katarina. Really like your videos.
Thank you Michael, I really appreciate your comment.
I have just been referred to an ENT for exactly this problem, which started several years ago but was intermittent. It is now constant and as someone who sings and speaks publicly, is very frustrating. I am waiting for a nasoendoscopy and possibly then treatment with a Speech & Language Therapist. The video is an excellent and accurate summary of what I've been suffering. Thank you.
Hi, I am sorry to hear about your voice troubles. I just released a new video with a success story. Check it out: ruclips.net/video/wq9R3-MGotw/видео.html The story is very inspirational. I wish you all the best.
6:10. This is an incredibly powerful point, for me personally. The 40:20 thing -- It's definitely something I do, a habit I never realized I had until I watched this video. Today, I deliberately took a quick deep breath each time I spoke (instead of my usual habit of just starting to speak at whatever lung volume I'm at), and I only spoke until my breath started to disappear (instead of my usual pattern of trying to speak until I finish whatever I want to say) then I took another quick deep breath to finish. So much less stress on the vocal cords today, so much clearer speech too. The throat is feeling pretty awesome, today! Thank you Katarina so much for these videos. I'm a physician, but I've only recently learned of MTD after I developed some of the typical signs and symptoms. Your videos are a great help
Thank you for your comment. I am glad you are finding the videos helpful.
I’m slp,and your video was so helpful for me,especially the laryngeal massage one.
Hi fellow SLP. I am glad that you find my videos helpful! We are in it together!
Great video Katarina. Very informative and helpful advice for muscle tension dysphonia. Thank you for sharing.
No problem. Thank you for stopping by.
I have a problem with my sternocleidomastoid muscle hitting my throat causing a voice quiver and recurrent cough. Bilateral Botox injections have pretty much CURED the problem. Yes, I have to repeat the injections. CURED!!
Very informative video, thank you for posting it. I had a theater audition a little over a month ago that required me to let out a scream. Unfortunately, I went rather above and beyond with my performance, letting out a real blood curdling scream, and woke up the following day with a hoarseness in my voice and sore throat. Over the next few days the soreness persisted and I tried to speak as little as possible, for it only further agitated my throat. A month later my voice was no longer hoarse, but my throat still felt weak, tender, and prone to agitation by speaking for any substantial length. I sing in a band and we had our first rehearsal back a week ago. Two days later I performed a show, and two days after that, another one. I didn't feel any pain while singing, and friends reported that I didn't sound any different than before, but I definitely felt the soreness and burning in my throat the following days, as well as a slight lump. My voice isn't noticeably hoarse now, and I never did fully lose my voice, but the stiffness, burning and pinching sensation is still present. This all lead me to research what the problem could be, and if in fact it is MTD.
Thank you so much for such a great explanation
You're very welcome!
Thanks for the informative video Katerina! I had no idea that MTD was a thing!
That's good that you haven't heard about it. It means your voice is healthy!
I've just met up for the first time with a speech pathologist this week, after my ENT specialist told me I don't have any nodules, but I misuse my ventriculair folds. Since I started suffering from severe stress and anxiety about 4 years ago, I completely recognize myself in this video. I hope my SP can give me the right diagnosis to get me on the right track to 'find my true voice' again. I love singing but lately it's hard on my voice and I feel like I can't sing anymore, which is so frustrating and only heightens my stress and anxiety and therefore makes the vocal tension even worse. I try to focus on relaxation and I've tried many different things already (psychologist, craniosacral therapy, yoga, etc.) but nothing has 'clicked' for me so far and it's hard to find everyday relaxation when the thing I'm most passionate about feels like a challenge now. I just hope I'll get the right help and tools to be able to sing freely again. 🤞🤞But, thank you Katarina, because your videos are the main reason I decided to visit an ENT in the first place, at least I'm taking steps forward 🙏
Hi Sofie, I am glad you took the first step. How is your voice feeling today?
@@healthyvoicetips Thank you for asking :) The sessions with my ENT have gone with ups and downs during the past few months, we focus a lot on lax vox and straw exercises and creating enough airflow to make the vocal folds close better. She also gives me manual throat massages, because my throat/neck/tongue/jaw/... muscles are often tensed. On the other hand I've started Cardiac Coherence Training, which also helps me relieve stress and shallow breathing.. as I said it goes with ups and downs, because every day is different (level of stress, etc.), but overall I do feel more in control over my voice through the right exercises and I gained a lot of interesting insights. I also want to thank you for your awesome videos, they are very educational and I often use them for warmups or vocal massages :)
This is a very useful video, thank you! I was an English conversation teacher for over 20 years and a few years ago I simply couldn't talk any more. I quit work, got a manual labouring job, and developed osteo-arthritis. So the loss of my voice had a terrible impact on my life. I now teach just part time but feel the problems coming back again. The doctor says it is probably acid reflux, but nothing I do seems to shift it. I'm going to be watching a lot more of your videos. Thank you!
Hi Marcus, I am sorry to hear about your voice troubles. I would suggest that you talk to your doctor again and tell them that their course of treatment is not working and ask them what else they suggest you try. Also, have you had videostroboscopy to see the function of the vocal folds?
If your ENT doesn’t have you sing or speak with the camera in your throat to check if your vocal chords are touching then you need to switch doctors. Both my parents are doctors and my first ENT tried telling me is was just post nasal drip and acid reflux when we knew for a fact it was not and the next appointment he tried to convince me that the physical pain I was having was all in my head
@@elizabethkhouri3366 what ended up being the overall issue?
@@jpierce8148 muscular tension dysphonia
Have the same situation like you😥😰
thank YOU so much 🙏💌
You are so welcome
Great information
Thank you!
I was singing despite of my muscles getting tighter I continued to sing. Usually after one days rest it recovers but this time it was here to stay for about a year. Had all the symptoms mentioned in the video. But more on severe scale unable to speak at all and going on full vocal rest for a year. First laryngoscopy results were clear, endoscopy results were clear, ultrasound scan results were clear and laryngoscopy again found that everything was clear but my voice was weak. Referred to speech therapist. While waiting for the appointment, I prayed for a miracle at that point. I got a flu which caused my throat to hurt more than ever, and muscle movement in my throat. It moved a lot and drained a lot of liquid. When flu passed, 90% of neck tightness was gone. But slight tightness remains on one side of the neck where like it's said in the video can be confused with ear too. Thankfully after flu I was able to begin to speak taking little steps, and with every few months voice is becoming more stable and stronger. I do not sing and I rest voice when it begins to feel tired. There is significant improvement overall, every 4 months. In conclusion, I learned the hard way that there are right and wrong ways to approach singing. ( FYI also tried acid watchers diet book to eliminate acid reflux cause ) it only helped to swallow with less pain. Soft diets worked well. Spicey, garlic, contribute to muscle tension so I immediately feel pain, and avoid. I avoided foods that cause acid reflux including chocolate, because acid reflux can irritate throat and make tightness worse, it was already bad so this would of made it worse.
Thank you for sharing your story and words of encouragement.
Good information!
Good morning. Thank you for visiting!
You havent really talked about high notes yet!That will be a great topic to talk about.Thanks!!
Thank you for your suggestion. I will put it on my list of ideas for future videos. What exactly would you like to know about singing in high registers?
@@healthyvoicetips What is the right technique and why? There are so many videos on high notes and everyone says different stuff.
Also you should review songs and singers!
I had this since my childhood accident. not cured, not diagnosed... until now :)
I found this beautfull woman speaking like she knows me better than myself, i'm happy and sad at the same moment.
Thank you Doctor
I am sorry to hear that you have voice problems. I wish you all the best. Let me know if you have any questions.
@@healthyvoicetips Thank you
I was diagnosed with functional dysphonia after 11 weeks of being voiceless. It’s now 14 months and the laryngeal augmentation & Botox injections I had 5 weeks ago have robbed me of the progress I had made with speech therapy. I’m now voiceless again.
I am sorry to hear about your vocal issues. It's been quite some time from the vocal surgeries. How is your voice feeling now?
@@healthyvoicetips my speech pathologist is happy with my progress but I don’t feel like there’s been any. It’s now three months post procedure and it should be wearing off now but I still have no volume.
this is exactly what I've been suffering from for many years
Have you seen an ENT? Have you been diagnosed with MTD?
@@healthyvoicetips I have seen an ENT almost a year ago now. I told him I felt like there was an obstruction on one side, seems to affect ear all the way down, but mainly right sided. I also feel like I have shortness of breath and is more difficult to take a deep breath from my right lung. I have trouble with breath in singing and notice I run out of air very quickly, to where I actually get light headed.
He saw a bit more mucus on that side and noticed muscle protruding into my throat with a scope. He suggested vocal therapy and a food allergy test-potential reflux.
Then corona hit, and I wasn’t able to follow through with anything. Now I’m pregnant and pressure is just making reflux and tension worse. BUT, it’s super good to know I can at least keep watching And take some of your tips to try to improve it! Thank you!
You can also go to the ENT to check if you have MTD. They just have to put the camera down your throat and see if your vocal chords are touching properly when you sing or speak, but because ENT don’t often do this simple check that’s why most people with MTD don’t know about it. More recent studies have shown that MTD can be caused by singing when your voice is too tired and you keep doing this on too many separate occasions so the muscles around the vocal chords learn to help when singing or speaking.
You have made the most informative video for MTD. I was diagnosed years ago and now my vocal chord movement is healthy again after years of dedication, patience, and trips to a specialist who taught me exercises and proper technique to resolve the MTD
Elizabeth, thank you for your comments and insights. Yes, you are absolutely right. The diagnosis of MTD need to be confirmed by a laryngoscopic exam (by an ENT). I wish you continued sucess!
@@healthyvoicetips you’re welcome
Informative 👍
:D
I've suffered with my voice for 22 years now(muscle tension dysphonia), since I was 11 and my voice changed. I've had vocal therapy and vocal coaching. This had helped a little but I still have a lot of issues. I've had chiropractic and massage therapy also. I eat well, drink only water and dont drink or smoke. My natural speaking voice is fairly low, but if I go too low my voice cracks. If I go high I generally tighten up and cant produce any sound at all. Feels like I'm being strangled and every now and then, a weak high pitched noise will leak out. I have had extremely rare days maybe 10 over 22 years where I've had full access to my voice, approximately 5 octaves. My goal is to sing, I used to sing as a child and had a strong well balanced voice. I have noticed, on the odd occasion when I've had a cold or sinus infection, my voice is free and I can access all of it with ease. As soon as I get well I'm back to 'normal' so frustrating. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Hi Jon, I am sorry to hear about your vocal troubles. 22 years is a long time. I am not sure if I can offer any good advice based on 8 lines when you've had voice therapy, vocal massage, good vocal hygiene etc. It is puzzling that your voice feels free when you get sick. Maybe you can start your "investigation" there. What are you doing differently (with your voice or in your life) when you have a cold or sinus infection? You must be doing something differently ... and it may be very slight but that is what makes your voice free. One thing that you need to bear in mind that you will never the same voice as when you were a kid. Your voice has changed not just due to long-lasting muscle tension but because you are an adult. When you say that your goal is to sing, do you sing at all these days? When you sing, how is your voice? When was the last time you saw an ENT? When did you get the diagnosis of MTD?
@@healthyvoicetips Thank you for your response. I know my voice will be different now im an adult and are having vocal issues. To me it is strange how my voice was so free before to how it is now. I dont do anything different when i am unwell. I just wake up and my voice is free and i generally have my full range without any cracking or tightness. Maybe its a result of illness and it relaxes the muscles? I dont know. I used to sing everyday, extremely poorly and would regularly do vocal exercises but my voice would always feel strained, hurt and i would more than often lose my voice for several hiurs afterwards. So I stopped singing and doing exercises as i feared i may be damaging my voice permanently. The last time i went to an ENT was about 8 years ago and to be honest they didnt really care that i was having issues, told me i had nothing wrong and refused to send me back to vocal therapy. So i started researching on the internet and youtube. Your video about MDT explains every problem i have and i have self diagnosed myself with MDT. There really isnt any other explanation for what i have wrong with my voice. My singing teacher gave up on me because i couldnt make any progress, due to not having a good foundation. I have recently been giving myself vocal massages. (Im a trained massage therapist) this seems to temporarily alivate some of my tention but not for long and still doesnt give me free vocal ability in my higher range. Still tight and poor quality. Im am down to 2 options as far as i can see, the straw method and botox injections. I would much prefer the straw method obviously. Botox injections would be my final choice. Hope this extra information can help. Thanks.
If it helps I had suffered for about four years with this condition and for the past year I have been able to sing and speak in a healthy manner again with my chords touching
Bro I’m 19 and I’ve had this same thing for the past 6 years. It drives me mad. I don’t even sing, I just want to talk clearly.
@@JonDraine hey man, u should go to an ENT again and get a voice therapist online, prepare a plan of action vocal rehab routine. Don't go for injections rn.
suffering from mtd since february now.. driving me mad. I really hope to read/hear of some success storys :'( this is what i rlly need to hear now... and how the ppl got there..
Have you seen my videos with success stories? There are some good tips in them.
Hi how are you doing now?
Same here
Thanks a lot for your videos. They are very informative and great!❤
I have a question: I have a stutter, and I've been visiting an SLP and speech therapist for quite a time. My speech gets mych better, but even when I'm practicing or when I don't stutter, there is a tension around my neck and top of my shoulders. Could it be MTD in combination with my stuttering? Can MTD happen in stuttering persons?
Thanks in advance for your time!
Yeah I think I may have this. I was a singer for many years and then had thyroid surgery and had a difficult time singing after that. My range was reduced and I had difficulty swallowing for a while. Now it’s 11 years later and I experience strain speaking almost all the time now (was intermittent before that only in loud places). I dread having to speak and it’s breaking my heart
Have you seen a voice specialist to start your healing?
@@healthyvoicetips not yet. I have an appt with my GP next month and will hopefully get a referral
Hi Katarina, Great content! I'm hoping you can give me some insight to my situation. I have recently had ACDF surgery (6 weeks ago) C4-C7. This is my 3rd cervical spine surgery since March of this year. I had 2 posterior laminectomy with instrumentation and fusion , fist C4-C7 and the second moving down to T1-T2. Now with the 3rd ACDF surgery I had the typical horse voice and pain for a few days from the moving over of the voice box to get to the spine. But, as apposed to my voice getting better over time it conversely went from horse, to horse and weak and then to just airy with very little ability to speak over a 3 week timeframe post op. I cannot hold my breath in to get out a full sentence even when loading up the diaphragm fully. I have the feeling of a tightness and lump in my larynx and feel the need to clear my throat often. I would gargle with warm salt water and I couldn't keep it from going down and choking me as if my throat is just open. Hiccups happen often as well. Today I went in for my 6 week checkup with my spine surgeon and he is at a "loss" as to the late onset of Dysphonia coupled with Dysphagia as there is no cases that can be found to substantiate the late onset. Here's the really crappy part. I am in sales and finance and need my voice to stay employed. Even worse yet, I am a professional singer and song writer and the loss of my voice has sent me into a formattable depression. Money is running out and I'm desperate for some informational hope and optimism. I have an up coming appointment with an ENT next week but I'm searching the net for the closest condition based on all of my symptoms. MTD seems the closest so far. I would love your input. BTW, below is the last vocal studio recording I did. It may not end up on your playlist as the Genre is rare but I'm sure you can appreciate what i was able to do. I have no voice now...especially at the end of ther day. It's just air and a whisper. Thank you in advance for your professional opinion if you have any ideas as to what's going on. soundcloud.com/user-435100971/02-poison-heart
Hi Michael, I am sorry to hear about your vocal and other troubles. I can hear your despair! We take voice for granted and when it's gone, it's devastating. Unfortunately, I don't think I can help you. But it is good that you have an ENT appointment because they will properly assess your voice and see what the vocal folds are doing. It sounds though that the vocal folds are not closing for voice production at all (they are staying apart). I really don't think it's MTD. Having voice problems is actually very common after neck surgeries because all of the nerves that supply the laryngeal muscles for voicing run through there. Speak to your ENT and see what treatment options he or she suggests, after they see how the vocal folds function. Hopefully, some voice therapy will be recommended. I wish you all the best. If you have any questions, let me know.
This is what I was diagnosed with a few days ago by an ENT. I developed it directly because of COVID and having quite bad laryngitis with it. My voice never really came back, apparently because my false vocal cords are behaving abnormally. I love singing and performing so it's been quite depressing. :( Really keen to hopefully get it fixed with a speech pathologist.
I am sorry to hear that you are dealing with a vocal issue. I already answered your question under a a different video. I wish you all the best on your vocal journey. Let me know if you have any questions along the way.
Yes exactly I got mine after COVID I got very sick from it I was coughing nonstop and very hard for two weeks & it only hurts to talk and or sing if I tried
i feel like i have this after puberty happened
Have you seen a voice specialist?
Same here, hurts a lot to talk, I used to sing but now I feel miserable not able to do it..
If I am not mistaken on or after 6th grade I started to notice my voice shakes everytime I speak then as I am getting older and older it turned out to be more severe because I felt that there is something blocking in my throat everytime I speak. This saddens me because I always got to experience someone or people imitate me and some even mock me. I feel so down and I breakdown everytime it happen.
I planned to consult a specialist in this matter but sadly this covid came and it saddened me that maybe I got 0% chance to treat this. 😢
@@jimmabocobo4272 hi jimma, that's really traumatic. That's what immature ppl do tho. Consult a voice therapist online, they will help you identify the problem.
This feel like all of my symptoms, thanks for posting this. I always sang with tension, but now its become almost impossible to sing a full song without feeling like someone is choking me, the amount of pain in my voice box is unbearable.
Have you seen an ENT for a proper voice assessment?
I called yesterday and got an appointment for August 28, I don’t know what to do until then :(
@@TheJan2988 hi did you ever see a doctor?
I feel exactly the same. I've seen many speech language therapist. No success.
@@misslyngardez how r u feeling now
I have been diagnosed with MTD. Voice therapy has helped it improve somewhat but I am nowhere near my normal speaking voice. It's very frustrating to communicate with people and due to the pandemic people are fearful I am sick. It's causing me a lot of anxiety and depression.
You are not the only one. People are not aware of voice disorders and how this may affect people's daily speech and lives. Stay strong.
I was diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia a couple years ago and my case was very bad. It was devastating and very scary. Vocal exercises is an uphill battle , and it may take longer than expected , depending on your severity, but you will indeed see progress little by little, until it eventually comes naturally to you . Im currently able to speak virtually completely normal. Every now and then I’ll notice/feel myself speaking in those unhealthy MTD patterns, and I’m able to redirect my voice to the healthy/normal speaking with A LOT more ease, almost like a light switch. And eventually MTD will completely be a thing of the past. This will be the same for you ! Just keep going and TRUST the process . Also , please look up Dr. Morton cooper , his techniques and findings helped me A LOTTT . Sending you love and light ! ✨You got this ! 🌸
You are absolutely correct. People don't know about voice problems.
@VrosieNoel, thank you for sharing your story and your encouraging words.
I am sorry to hear that you have been dealing with MTD. You left this comment quite some time ago and I hope that you have been able to find more permanent solutions.
I think I may have MTD. I've been to an ENT and I'm still going through appointments for various tests and working with a speech pathologist. When I'm upset or happy or cold it makes it almost impossible to speak at all. Most times it feels like I'm running out of breath or there is a lot of tension in my chest and neck. The speech therapy has helped a bit. I'm coming up on a year since it started and it's gradually gotten worse. I'll talk to my doctor about it. Thanks for this info!
No worries. There are a lot of factors that may affect your voice. Check out my other videos on this topic so that you can address all of the contributing factors.
@@healthyvoicetips I have added laryngeal massage, humming, steam and the straw exercises to my routine. It seems like they all help relieving tension. I really cannot sing anymore. Carrying a tune is impossible still. Hopefully in time that will come. I do try to sing daily but it gets frustrating quickly.
@@johnmccormack7360 how are you now I'm recently diagnosed with MTD and I'm so scared
I don't wanna self-diagnose, but I have had all these symptoms for ten years now, they come and go. I went 8 months to a vocal therapist and she only gave me breathing exercises along with neck rotation exercises. No sounds! I haven't felt any improvement and it's getting more and more frustrating because the vocal therapists keep saying there's nothing physiologically wrong, but that doesn't make it go away. Today I'm starting off to practice your exercises.
Have you had a videolaryngoscopy done?
I have had an estroboscopy done, a couple years ago, and they found nothing.
Did they actually have you sing or speak when the camera was in your throat? Because the first ENT I went to did not and tried to convince me nothing was wrong even though I was in physical pain.
Yes they had me talk and sing during it. And I got oficially diagnosed with MTD and there are no physical causes. I still struggle despite speech therapy.
I have this exactly.
Have you seen a laryngologist or done any voice therapy?
This is interesting ... I might call my doctor about this .. for years I always made sure to never yell or sing too loud because my throat always felt so strained after, and the muscles felt sore. And lately (I have severe anxiety normally, but this pandemic doesn't help) my voice throughout the day feels strained, and the muscles just feel tight. Then at night it always sounds like I'm losing my voice.
I know you left this comment a long time ago. I hope you found some answers for your voice.
You really nailed it. I have MTD & lpr and few others. I was diagnosed in 2017. What is your opinion on Botox in vocal cords and do you feel MTD it truly goes away or temporary. Because even with speech therapy I go from no voice .. to whisper to hoarse .. and right now I’m back at no voice .. none. Thank you. Your video so exact.
I’m interested in this too. My doctor doesn’t want to do Botox but I’ve read of people having success.
@@rebekahfeuerbach9603 my doctor wants me to try it. But my little brother had no success.. I hear people with spasmodic dysphonia having great success
Spasmodic dysphonia and muscle tension dysphonia are two very different conditions. I am not going to tell you to have Botox or not, I don't know you so I cannot really give you any valid opinion on that. You need to have that discussion with your doctor. Regarding voice therapy for muscle tension dysphonia - it is a long process and it often feels like one step forward and two steps back. It can be a frustrating and overwhelming process. Have you seen my other videos on MTD where I share Kimberly's story how she overcame MTD?
@@healthyvoicetips yes I understand they are very different. I just was wondering about your opinion but I understand due to u not wanting to be like your advising me . I totally get it. And I will check out your video. Thank you. And yes I do feel like I take steps toward then two steps back, especially when I get stressed 😩 I’m back to square one. But thank u 😊
Is grade 3 or 4 tongue tie related somehow MTP? I am a 27 years old man with a very tenor-ish high pitched voice, and I got recently diagnosed with tongue tie and suggested frenectomy before myofunctional and voice therapy. I had crowding of the teeth and also recessed maxilla. What are your opinion about it?
I have recently been diagnosed.
I am sorry to hear that Sheila. Check out my last two videos with a success story. You may find some good tips there. ruclips.net/video/i3q1ks3lknA/видео.html
I’m pretty sure I have MTD. I suffer from vocal fatigue a lot just from talking throughout the day and 3 years ago it was that bad i had to stop talking cause my throat feels awful and my voice was hoarse. I was told it was anxiety but now I’m going through that exact thing again. I had a laryngoscopy on Thursday and was told they were perfectly healthy even though I experience vocal issues. In the past 5 months I’ve had two occurrences after singing where my throat has swelled up, lost my voice and it’s effected my breathing slightly. I’m trying to get back into talking as I was advised by my ENT but it takes alot more effort and my voice is slightly hoarse. I’m going to have my vocal cords looked at again in 4 months time to look at the vibrations to see if I have MTD but I’m pretty sure I have it cause I have a lot of the symptoms. I believe I first started experiencing this when I was 17 and it’s gradually been getting worse.
I am cannot know for sure but what you are describing may fall into the category of MTD. The challenge of this diagnosis is that the videostroboscopy may not show any indications of tension and therefore, the doctor says that the vocal folds look perfectly healthy. I would say that the majority of people with MTD has "perfectly healthy vocal folds" but they still have symptoms similar to what you are describing. I would suggest that you request voice therapy. Here is a link to a resource that tells you what you could be doing to release tension and improve your voice: www.vocalfreedomsystem.com/blueprint
Yes l believe l have MTD I am experiencing vocal changes and muscles tension with some pain.
Have you had your voice assessed by a laryngologist. They may confirm what you think or tell you otherwise. But most importantly, they can give suggestions on what to do.
Wow!
🤔
my voice sounds completely find, it sounds like nothings wrong but my throat feels like theres a big lump in it. It only happens if im thinking about it though, when i wake up in the morning it feels fine, or if im spacing out but when im paying attention it just hurts terribly. I have spoken and sung without any pain but it happens whenever i think about it. Could that be stress causing mtd? Or is it just intense overthinking? I have stomach problems mainly just from overthinking and anxiety. Same thing with the voice maybe?
Our voices are very sensitive to stress and anxiety. Even though I cannot be sure, I would say yes to your question. If your digestive system is affected by anxiety and stress, then your voice may be too. I would recommend breathing exercises, mindfulness practice and some meditation to deal with your anxieties.
1 year ago I was practicing alot for singing. I was doing singhasana also. Suddenly I have started throat pain. It was sharp cut type pain. Even I was not able to speak for 1 month. Slowly pain went away. But still If I try to sing the pain comes back. Is it a muscle related issue? How to trat it? Is there any exercise for it?
If my video stroboscopy doesn’t show tension and basically shows everything is normal. Can I have MTD? My largonologist doesn’t think it is. But a SLP think it might be.
My only symptom is pain in my larynx that sometimes ends up in my throat in the back of my mouth
Thank you so much!! I have MTD as a secondary diagnosis caused by LPRD as well as a car accident that left me with a herniated disc in my neck and two bulging discs.
My voice has been progressively getting worse and it has been so devastating 😢
I am so sorry to hear that!
Can I have MTD if my only symptom is pain to the side of my larynx and fatigue? It’s three months old. The laryngologist didn’t see anything worrying in the scope. I’m doing speech therapy but seeing no improvement
Could what I have be a laryngeal strain that actually needs a long rest from my activity (singing). Like a month long rest?
Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD) hummm 🤔 that's a new one for me! Never heard of this before, interesting to learn more about the signs.
That is a good thing that you have never heard about it! Thanks for stopping by!
7.19 . i can totally relate to it :( . I am confused if its thyroid pain or MTD
Don't try to self-diagnose. Speak to a voice professional who can make the differential diagnosis.
Hey i feel pain on the left side of my upper throat when i speak... Is it MTD? I don't really notice swelling or anything... What do you think?
I've been telling my PCP that I've been having changes in my voice and difficulty communicating for the past 2 years and even asked for an ENT referral and they did nothing.
I am sorry to hear that your doctor is not addressing your issues. Do you think you can go for a second opinion or change your doctor?
Hi Katarina
I have ULVCP and am wating for a thyroplasty. However my left shoulder area is so tense and I suffer vocal fatigue can you recommend something to help the muscle tension?
Have you tried a good massage?
I was dxd with MTD by an ENT after a physical exam and look a simple look at my vocal chords. Nothing else. I went through Speech Therapy (via zoom). I haven't gotten better.
I also have Eosinophilic asthma, and I'm not sure which is which. My voice is horrible and I can't sing. It's really been life altering. What do you recommend?
MTD is a very complex issue. I would try to look at it from many different angles and see why your muscles have extra tension. The reasons may be various. I made a series of 2 videos in which I share all the things that one of my clients did to help with MTD. Here is one of them: ruclips.net/video/wq9R3-MGotw/видео.html Also check out my free video about 7 steps to s strong voice without tension. Maybe you will be able to find other things that you have not considered yet.
I started to have voice issue after getting Covid a year ago basically I got Covid I got really sick I was coughing literally nonstop for two weeks first week I was coughing up this green stuff & 2nd week I was jus coughing & ever since it becomes painful to talk & the more I talk the more painful it becomes
I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain when speaking. Have you had your voice assessed by a laryngologist?
Hi Katarina, my voice is so sensitive to air conditioning, it dries my lips and throat. Any suggestions or tips to overcome this? Cos many times we have to perform under such conditions.
Absolutely. Steaming and hydration. When winter starts here, I put a humidifier into every room. I steam my voice twice a day. It really helps and it feels nice. Check out my video on steaming your voice: ruclips.net/video/3bquXgEh_mg/видео.html And I am working on another video on this topic so stay tuned.
Started with my voice breaking all the time after tonsillectomy at 35. It’s been slowly getting worse.
I agree with @Tum Tum, have your voice properly evaluated by a voice specialist.
Thank you for this video. I struggle with MTD since I was about 14 or 15. I don't really know how it started but perhaps I developed a bad habit of speaking when my voice cracked during my puberty. After it cracked I had a quite low and manlish voice for my age so maybe I was speaking too low or too dark and it wasn't neccesarily comfortable. Hard to say. It got worse when I started to notice that my voice could change from low and mature to higher and more breathy. It made me feel unconfident and I was sometimes even ashamed of speaking. Reading in a class was a really embarrasing experience because almost nobody could hear me or understand me. At 20 I finally got to ENT and I was diagnosed with MTD. I had a few visits at speech therapist where I learnt how to breathe from my diaphgram and I've noticed a significant change but I had to resign from another appointments due to my work and lack of time. Now I'm in a situation where the changes in my voice are completely random. Sometimes I speak a lot and I quickly get raspy and my throat hurts. Other times I don't speak at all for a few hours and I can feel that my voice gets constricted and when I finally say a word, my voice is breathy and very thick so I sound like if I was trying to speak while inhaling. It made me socially anxious because I'm sometimes too stressed out to speak to people and it's even hard for me to find a new job as I'm afraid that my voice will make me feel uncomfortable and awkward. I know that it gets much worse during stress but I can't control it. As soon as I hear that my voice is strained, higher and breathy, I am stressed like hell. It's really frustrating. On top of that I recently revisited my ENT and he said that my vocal chords close and open properly now but I still feel and hear that MTD is not gone. I feel like I'm in no way situation. What's worse is that I really like to sing and it's annoying that after maybe 5 or 6 songs, my voice is completely shot and I lose a lot of my range and clarity😣
I am very sorry to hear that you are struggling with muscle tension dysphonia. Thank you for sharing your story. I absolutely understand how this can impact your life. I suggest that you give your voice a priority and start with voice therapy again. There are so many more things you could be working on, not just breathing exercises. Releasing tension, retraining your voice to work without tension etc. Contact your ENT and ask for a referral to see a voice therapist. While you are waiting for an appointment, you can browse videos on my channel to find some exercises that may help. I wish you all the best.
@@healthyvoicetips Thank you so much for your response! 😊 I will definitely try some exercises from your channel. After making this comment I decided to try one thing that seems to work for now and I will see if I can keep it. I try now to talk as comfortably as I can because earlier I was really not consistent with my pitch and whenever I feel a tension, I do not push or force my voice like before, I just try to speak normally or just raise my voice a bit to release that tension. It really helps and it's been already 2 weeks that my voice sounds quite relaxed and tensionless. It's so plain, yet just now I made a choice to not push when my voice gets weaker because it makes things go worse. I hope that it's a start of a new era for my voice.
I’ve been going through a complex due to my weak voice .. my voice is usually not audible comes out very deep and weak and since I’ve noticed ppl smirking I’ve become even more conscious and I avoid taking to people fearing people will mock my voice … another thing is when there’s music playing or in a discussion when people are talking loudly my voice gets completely lost .. please help me
Have you seen a laryngologist for a voice assessment?
Is there a difference between vocal abuse/overuse and MTD
Hi i have been suffering with this for about two or three months after i read loudly a novel for about two hours continuously now i can speak and sing a bit not as always but my heart also hurts me when i speak a lot or talk for long time and my voice gets tired so fast and although i sound normal but i feel like since that day my voice is different as if I'm using another chords or smth i don't know what to do we don't have ENT here in my city or any doctor related to voice i don't know what to do really
I am really sorry to hear about your vocal troubles. But I would encourage you to find a way to see a voice specialist. Just because something sounds like "this", it does not mean that you have it. It is quite common that people travel to bigger cities to have their voice evaluated by laryngologists. It's just one trip and you will know better what you are dealing with and what the recommendations are.
Hi,
I drank straight apple cider vinegar as a salad dressing after I ate the salad. It burned my throat. I have a problem with hoarseness/ fatigue. It’s been a couple months and it’s not healed much. Do you have any suggestions to help? Tyvm
Have you seen an ENT who can assess the tissue in your throat and larynx?
I feel like I have it cause when I sing my neck muscles always tighten up and I don't like the feeling, idk if it's due to bad technique or it's just pure MTD
Ask a voice specialist. They will be able to give you some answers.
HI I have a question and I would really appreciate any help. I lost my voice out of nowhere in July of 2018, so 16 months now. This has never happened to me before in my life. After months of testing and a video stroboscopy, the ENT diagnosed me with MTD last week. I am going to start speech therapy next week, but I wanted to know if it's ok for me to sing or if it's better for me to not talk at all unless it's necessary? I am disabled and spend all day every day at home alone so not talking. It's really weird, I can't talk but I can sing just perfectly. I love music and always have music on and am singing along to it, but I don't want to make the MTD worse (if that's even what is causing this problem). I was also curious if it's normal to have extreme shortness of breath, fatigue and exhaustion beyond anything you've ever experienced in your life and constant coughing with MTD? I don't really think the MTD is a correct diagnosis for me because of those breathing symptoms I'm having and the fact that I can sing just fine (except for the shortness of breath) but I can't talk. I am totally clueless and would appreciate any advice. Thank you!!
Thank you for your question. I am sorry to hear about your ongoing voice problems though. People with MTD are known to have altered breathing patterns, so breathing issues can be contributing to your voice problems for sure. I am sure your voice therapist will work with you on some breathing exercises. You don't need to stop talking, you will not make your condition worse. The reason you can sing but not talk is that you may be using a different technique for sound production during singing than for talking and you don't even realize it. Your goal will be to become aware of all the things you do when you make sounds (speaking or singing) and strengthen the ones that are healthy and efficient. I wish you all the best.
@@healthyvoicetips Thank you for taking the time to reply to me. I haven't started the therapy yet, hoping to this week or next, just waiting for them to call me back. Is it normal for this to have an acute onset for the first time in a person's life whose never had anything like it before and to last so long? It just makes no sense to me. Have you ever experienced it yourself, lasting 18 months without any change whatsoever? By that I mean, my voice has never once returned since this happened. Thank you. 😘
I did voice lessons every week and vocal therapy when I suffered with MTD. My therapist said its actually helpful to go to voice lessons especially if your voice teacher is willing to talk to your speech therapist and do the exercises with you in class
Hi! I have been experiencing some pain that seems to mostly be one sided but it tends to feel like it is under my jaw, could this be MTD? Its basically deep beneath my tongue and at times my saliva gland on that side will swell underneath my tongue. I have no clue at this point. I just hope I haven't damaged anything permanently. I have lessened speaking and nearly stopped singing for a couple weeks now and still pain after if I try to sing a song. Anyone else experience this very thing? I'll be seeing a specialist as soon as I can afford but want to know more until then
Nobody can tell you what is going on without proper assessment. Nobody can tell you just by listening to your voice or just by describing. I suggest that you visit a specialist who can assess you.
I really love to sing and i have a vocal problem, 6 months ago when I tried a high note that I had never tried before, immediately my voice turned so raspy and breathy when talking and singing. I also feel that my voice gets tired easily.
It makes me depressed😔. I went to ENT Doctors and get scoped my vocal cord looks healthy and there is no polyp or nodule.
Is it possible that I have MTD? Do you think MTD can occur all of sudden because of forcing a high note?
Can someone answer me, i would really appreciate it.
-Sorry if my english not too good
Your English is very good. MTD does not appear suddenly. It usually is caused by a few factors, not just one instance of singing a high note. But you may not be aware of all the factors coming together. The good news is that you don't have any structural changes on the vocal folds. And it is very common for an ENT to say that the vocal folds look healthy even though they may be a functional problem (like MTD). If you can, go back to the doctor and ask what he recommends to deal withy our vocal issue. Or try a different laryngologist, a specialist who actually has experience working with singers. They may understand better what you are going through.
I have most of the symptoms of MTD. One doctor told me back in 2019 that I have MTD but another ENT doctor denied it saying I might be having this due to gas formation. But my conditions have persisted.
Sometimes, different doctors will have different opinions. I would go for a voice evaluation again (because in 5 years, things could have changed) and the most important part is to inquire about their recommendations. If you have MTD, can they refer you to voice therapy? If they suggest any other cause, what are they doing to remedy that?
@@healthyvoicetips they have given some exercises. Doing those gives some relief for some time.
Hi, I've been diagnosed with MTD recently. And have started voice therapy. I have a Q. My voice is feeling strained and muted even during regular conversation. Even in the morning and even for 2 sentences. Is taking complete voice rest recommended for a week or two? Will it help or make it worse?
I sometimes feel that I have only a limited number of sentences left for lifetime and I use my voice as sparingly as possible to make it last longer. Maybe I'm being silly? Will using my voice as usual, even when it's straining, deteriorate the condition? Or does it not matter?
These are definitely questions, you should be discussing with your therapist. I believe that if you understand what is really going on with your voice, you experience better progress. But let me assure you that you are definitely NOT alone asking this question. Most of my clients ask the same questions. So here is my take on it:
If you have MTD. then vocal rest for a week or two will not help (it can actually make things worse). Vocal rest for a day will not help. Vocal pacing is something that you should be practicing - scheduling your voice use together with voice breaks strategically placed throughout the day. The main goal for people like you is to re-train your voice so that you can use it without creating tension when you speak. The progress may be slow therefore you feel discouraged or you feel like there is only so much you can say for the rest of your life. But even if it feels like something sinister is happening in your throat when you speak, you are actually not tearing, damaging or pulling anything. Your brain is just interpreting muscle tension the way you feel it. I would encourage you to develop a routine of exercises (manual, vocal and mindfulness exercises) that can release that tension and help you start re-training your voice. I hope this makes sense. Let me know if you have more questions.
It does make sense. Thanks a lot for responding. It's a recent diagnosis and I'm still figuring out what it means and what I should be doing. And I landed on your channel which I found immensely helpful, but the comments sort of freaked me out. I did try completely resting my voice for few days and it actually felt worse. The way I interpreted it is that it's a muscle and if I don't use it, it'll just get weak.
So, if I just pace out my talking (apart from following the voice therapist instructions) and continue to talk when needed inspite of what I feel in my throat, I won't do any permanent damage right? I just tell my brain to shut up and not to worry and that it'll get better?
think i have this. when i try to talk my abdomen and chest tighten up. Feels like i cant breathe from constantly trying to get air flow through to talk. it feels like it gets worse every day, and everytime i try to talk i sound completely different
Hi, I am sorry to hear that you are dealing with these issues. I highly recommend that you go and have your voice assessed by a laryngologist. Do not self-diagnose!
@@healthyvoicetips i have ent appointment soon so they’ll probably recommend one, been waiting for forever
My issues seems to be like.. I have a different voice at the beginning of the day and at the end, it's somethin' else. I find difficult to go low when singing and am facing a bit of strain when tryna speak. When singing high after my voice changes, it just cuts off in the mid way and I go off tune. And at that point of time when I try to go low, it just sounds too harsh and a bit strained.
Have you seen a voice specialist? Changes in the voice throughout the day are a good reason to have your voice properly evaluated.
@@healthyvoicetips I haven't seen anyone yet. I wanna know if I should consult a speech therapist or an ENT..?
I have been diagnosed with Primary MTD. I have been working with speech therapist, massages, botox into the neck and so far nothing seems to be helping. Any suggestions? My muscles around vocal cords are so swollen. I've been suffering with this for 5 years. Ever since I ate a carrot and felt it got stuck in my throat. I have never been the same.
I am sorry to hear that you have not found a long-lasting solution for MTD yet. Here is a free resource which can help you figure out what techniques, approaches or exercises you have not tried yet to get better results. www.vocalfreedomsystem.com/blueprint Finding the right solutions for every person is different and it may take time. Let me know if you have any questions.
Okay, this might be a stupid question. But regarding to the 60%-40% lung capacity while speaking, is it okay to stop talking at 40% on the exhale, and then breath the rest out before inhaling, or should the inhale be initiated when you hit 40% regardless?
I've been playing around with it. And I realize there's really no need to deplete the rest of the breath (after talking/before inhaling), except when truly needed... I gotta say, I've been amassing hundreds of tips over the years, and this is one of, if not the most helpful tip I've ever heard. The frustrating thing is, I've heard many a speech/singing coach say the opposite. I've heard them say, "If you still have breath left over, that means you (1) took too big a breath or (2) didn't use enough air while speaking/singing."
It's so much easier to speak now. I consistently have more breath support, and I'm not over thinking how much breath I need to use in order to deplete my lung capacity.
Hi, I am sorry I did not get to answer your question sooner but I see you found an answer. And you are absolutely right. There are situations where you would want to empty your lungs to the resting position but because speaking is a dynamic process, you don't need to go down to "zero" all the time. I am glad that you have figured it out for your body and voice.
Well my mtd has finally got to me, after 25 years In our duo I've called it a day, I've been trying so hard to get better but this crap just won't go..😒
I hear you Steve. MTD can be very frustrating and challenging to deal with!
Can MTD cause lots of coughing when speaking? It is definitely more pronounced as the day progresses. My throat always feels so raw and scratchy with the hoarseness even though ENT said it did not seem inflamed, is this also common of MTD?
These symptoms are really distressing at times and hoping it will improve soon.
Constriction can lead to coughing and throat clearing. But it is not a common symptom. May this be a secondary symptom developed due to MTD? Have you seen my video on throat clearing? There maybe some suggestions to help you overcome coughing.
Did the ENT check to see if your vocal chords touched when you sing or speak?
Maybe you have acid reflux? I have MTD and acid reflux and it makes me clear my throat a lot during the day.
Hallo!! I came from Greece and I study opera. I started singing 5 years ago. 3 years ago I decided to start studying opera and a quite difficult repertoire. I felt something like tension in my throat like something is stuck in there but one day it became permanent. Since then I still feel it. I went to doctors and they couldnt find something. So I thought that it was tension. I don't know what I am supposed to do. Here in Greece there are no specialists about MTD.
In the Chicago land Area we have the Bastian Voice Institute and they are the official ENTs of the Chicago Lyric Opera. Maybe you can video chat with them
Elizabeth, that is a great suggestion. Thank you!
Despoina, I am really sorry to hear about your vocal troubles. I am not sure what to do either because you cannot self-diagnose, especially MTD. What have you tried to release tension? Is there anything that actually helps to lessen your feeling of tension?
@@healthyvoicetips you’re welcome
I am diagnised by mtd.this has disrupted my breathing when i do deep breathing i feel tension in my throat and neck muscles. How long do mtd usually takes to resolve?
I replied to your question under another video.
Hi it will help a lot if you stop coffee, alcohol, smoking anything that increases heart pulses. You need to massage the whole head were its tense. Even the ears. Do it a bit strong when applying the massage. This is not just a throat/neck thing. Breathe to calm down during the day. This has to do with tension and not caused by singing.
It took me four years to resolve and that’s with week voice lessons and lots of vocal therapy
@@stbsabs4370 so sport is not possible anymore with mtd? omg how shall one survive this... :( mtd is making you so depressed.. without sport now im not sure if id survive it
@@TheApril1610 Running did not seem to have a negative effect overall on me. Possibly because afterwards it leaves you relaxed rather than in tension
Me too... need help relaxing my neck and throat muscles. Been to ENT's for three years and speech therapist nobody can help me.
I am so sorry to hear that! I can only imagine what yo are going through.
I do neck massages. It’s hit and miss. I had a “good voice” for about 2 weeks and now it’s bad again. Since a lot of these disorders occur in the basic ganglia of the brain, I’m not sure Botox or other medications would even help.
Same! I have done speech therapy, massages, nothing helps. And I also have good days where my voice is perfect but most days is really bad and fatigued. It sucks
@@Rocio-wy2eg Hi Rocío I have had MTD for more than three years now. For the last few weeks I received neck massages and therapy from physiotherapist that only focused on massaging my neck and it is really helping. I had another physiotherapist and it wasn't helping at all. She wasn't focusing on my neck muscles as the new one. My speech therapist also taught me new ways of coping when my voice gets tired. I also sick on lozenges when I feel like that lump in my throat has reached almost it's limit... hang in there let me tell you I know how you feel but thee is always hope. I wished more people understood this condition and empathize more with us. Hang in there
@@vjcarter4657
Dear JeanBaptiste, I have been to so many ENT specialists and an academic professor. None of them suggested botox in my case neurologically there was no evidence that my neurons was not functioning correctly in the speech area of the brain, like you have mentioned the basal ganglia. I waited for more than three years and feel sometimes frustrated but I realised getting the correct speech and physiotherapist as a team is so important. I always disagreed with my previous physiotherapist and this had an effect on my voice - I was always tense. As soon as I changed the physiotherapist I started to get better. Remember this is emotionally and physically draining for us and nobody but us experiencing MTD will understand the pain. Its up to us to create an awareness and I can't thank Katrina H for creating this platform for us. Ensure that you take your time and pace yourself, don't talk more than you are able to , hydrate and what helps for me is lozenges with antiseptic and anesthetic properties. Hang in there , we all here to support each other- gosh I know how you are feeling...
. just so your video and OMG, for several years im going to my throat doctors and no one can see or tell me whats wrong. No one told me i have MTD but they cant see anything for yrs "your strings are so smooth "and Allways un-nature feeling in throat,
my right side is the one with more pain and jaw muscles too.
some day its just showed and i cant SING anymore...
Breathing is labored and when I try to produce a sound in a very quiet and calm way no sound comes out. You have to give a "push" for it to move, like a jump.
When I sing the voice comes out in such an unnatural way it is as if distorted and not hoarse, just sounds like a printer and jumps octaves in an unstable way
PLEASE PLEASE WHAT Medication is for this katherina???
I don't think there is medication for this kind of issue. But there are exercises, retraining the motor patterns and also mind-body-voice exercises. There are no simple solutions for this, so I suggest that you find a voice therapist who can guide you through this process.
I have same problem I am from Pakistan before 18 years but my voice now only in base and streaming I can't speak loudly kindly guaid me what I have to do Or any Madison I can use my muscles from my nose to my neck I am feeling hard so can't pass. Air to brain I feel some blockeg there
I am very sorry to hear that you are dealing with a vocal issue.
Singing/speaking should never hurt. What have you tried so far that worked to help with your problem? If you have questions, please ask.
for me i have a roomate, because im to shy to talk to phone normally i tried to whisper every time im calling my wife not to disturb my roomate, i been doing this for maybe 5 years, then i notice that my voice is kinda hoarse, i went to ENT and he said that my throat is normal, i ve been in medication but to changes in my voice, and also i have globus sensation everytime i lay down, pls help me maam thank you
I am not sure I can help. I suggest that you visit a local voice therapist to help you.
I am suffering from spasmodic disphonniya. Is it different from MTD?
Yes, spasmodic dysphonia and MTD are very different. Sorry to hear that you have vocal issues.
My condition started when i was 18 yeras old, and now im 39, and I don’t know very well, what i have, 8 years ago, a speech teraphyst, told me that for her i have, smasmodic dysphonia, my ent didnt find anything, because on my endoscopies, with the spray they used on my nose, i can talk “normal”, but yesterday, i found about this, and now im confused, yesterday i told my MD but he just told me, im just nervous, thats why my voise sounds like that
I am sorry to hear about your problem, for a more accurate response I must need to talk in person with you.
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Can this be caused by stomach disorders like toomuch bloating, GERD, stomach ulcer or gastritis? I started having this throat pain soon after i frequently had serious acid reflux burning the throat then later on started hvng this pain. Even after taking omeprazole it continued although acid reflux is no more, if you know guys please help
Yes, acid reflux can be a cause or a contributing factor. If you are worried about your voice, I suggest that you talk to a voice specialist who can actually assess your voice and determine if it is really muscle tension dysphonia or something else.
At the moment the main problem is that when i speak evn jus fo a minute my throat pains, feeling like i have been speaking for the whole day at high voice, morelike muscle tension around the throat and what worries me more is that sometimes it even causes headache esp if i hv noway but have to talk after a long talk i have serious headaches, throat pain, muscle tension
Trouble with excessive gas, swallowing and yawning..
Is this a thing
Absolutely. Have you talked to your doctor?
My muscle tension dysphonia is severe I sound like I a chronic smoker who is dying I feel there is no hope 😢
I am sorry to hear that you are dealing with MTD. It can really feel devastating. But know that you are not alone and there is hope. My channel is made for people who are dealing with MTD and I invite you to watch some of my videos. Maybe you can find ideas about what else you could explore, something you have not tried yet.
Hi Katarina. Should you continue sing if you have MTD?
Hi Liz, it depends. If singing causes so much tension and pain that it is unbearable and causing more harm, then don't. Continue singing if it does not add to build up of tension. But if you decide to sing, keep working on changing the technique to lessen the tension.
My throat is always so tense, my reflux is getting "treated", I have trouble swallowing so hard. My throat is so tense that I cant even talk, it hurts after I talk for a bit, I cant talk, sing or do anything anymore because of the discomfort, I'm mad all the time, I really don't know what to do. I've gone to so many doctors and I've not gotten better. This has been happening for 2 years now. Feeling the same, I barely speak anymore
Have you been officially diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia?
@@healthyvoicetips yes about a year and a half ago. Mild Acid reflux and MTD
I have LPR and have been having the same problem! Do the muscles in your throat feel like they’re going to lock?
@@vl2663 its more of like this weird sensation that everything is squeezing around my larynx its such a weird feeling man
@@dynamix298 yeah it feels similarly for me as well
Hi katairina, want to virtual call with you as i am facing issue in speaking . Could you please talk to me once and give me the right path to overcome this issue.
I am very sorry but I do not offer individual consultations.
@@healthyvoicetips what is the issue , could you please let me know how can i connect with you as it is something which are effecting my career .
Do you have a video for bowed vocal chords
I don't, sorry Denise.
Ok
Why is my voice deep and relaxed when I have a hangover, but higher and too breathy all the time?
I feel the same, or if I'm high lol. But voice changes again when sober
How long to treat mtd from a reflux?
It depends. How long have you had MTD? How are you managing reflux? First, try to get reflux under control, then slowly work on releasing tension from your voice. If you haven't had MTD for too long, a few sessions with a voice professional should help. Are you working with a voice therapist on this?
It is vagus nerve disfunction[.]
Can be but there are muscles involved in speaking that are not innervated by the vagus nerve.
I have a shortness of breath almost 1 year always air hunger struggling for good breath..and yawning that’s the only shymtom I have for a year..my life is getting worsed.... I went to ent dr he told me I have a muscle tension .......but you don’t mention here in this video about shortness of breath....what will be my treatment???
Muscle tension dysphonia can be cause by tension anywhere in the body. not just around your voice box. It can come from your breathing muscles or anywhere in the body. The treatment is the same - you learn how to release the tension and then how to use your voice in an efficient way.
@@healthyvoicetips I don’t have no vice voice problem mam!!! Just shortness of breath struggling for air all the time ..I have no lung problem no heart problems no asthma no allergy I see all dr all test everything is normal … I am dying for this breathing problem save me mam😞😞😞😞😞😞…..I am going voice and speech therapy tomorrow dr told me to go …
@@saikotpoddar2990 i have the exact same thing. Im crying everyday because nothing helps and nobody knows what's wrong. Everyday is a day of anxiety and sadness now
I’ve been having hoarse voice for about three weeks now and the doctor told me i strained my vocal cords because i was yelling
I have the same condition, had tests done they can't find a cause. Some evidence of MTD they say.
If you strained your voice from yelling, then you don't have MTD.
John, what did the doctor suggest that you do?
@@healthyvoicetips Take it easy with my voice no shouting or talking loudly. Which I don’t do anyway.
@@healthyvoicetips i had a polyp on my vocal cord but im back to normal almost
My 34 year old son has a problem! He doesn’t understand that he is speaking too loudly! It has become a problem which his partner and I, his mother, have tried to correct but it’s clear, he isn’t aware that it’s happening! He is under a lot of stress sonZi’m wondering if it’s MTD?….
No, that does not sound like MTD. There are people who speak loudly all the time but because they have been speaking like this all their life, they don't know the difference.
Question. I did went through a phase in March where I bush my teeth and and I was trying to get a cold out so i put the toothbrush at the back of my tongue and to get the cold to come out however it did come out but some of my stomach acid came up as well too. Went to the doctor about it and got some medication for inflammation. But however when I sing I see my two neck veins show between my larynx and some times I cannot sing certain high notes again because of it. Another one as well is when swallowing I see a muscle cross section at the left part of my neck when swallowing to the larynx. A demonstration here is this eg /| that’s how it looks when I swallow my food and it’s uncomfortable can you tell what problem is that thank you
Romario, I am sorry but I really don't know. I would recommend to speak to your doctor in person, so that he or she can actually see what is going on.
Okay thank you very much and love your videos there awesome.
sometimes just listening a high pitch song causes tension in my throat.
Yes, I have a similar experience when I listen to an inexperienced singer who sings with tension. I feel the pain too.
I also experience this
I do have MTD.
Hi Daphne, thank you for watching my video. I hope you found it helpful. I am sorry to hear about your vocal issues. How is your voice feeling now? Do you have a plan how to improve your voice? If you have any questions, let me know.