Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD) is one of the most common voice diagnoses—but what does it actually mean? What are the symptoms? And how can we continue to support singers with suspected or diagnosed MTD? In this episode, Dr Lori Sonnenberg unpacks the truth about MTD, rights the misconceptions, and offers some solutions for voice professionals.
WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?
2:42 What is Muscle Tension Dysphonia?
7:41 What’s the difference between dysphonia and dystonia?
8:38 How is MTD diagnosed?
18:48 The importance of language
30:23 Who is prone to MTD?
34:07 What are the audible signs of MTD?
40:31 Is it muscular or mucosal?
44:10 How impactful is self-massage for MTD?
46:19 What is involved in MTD treatment?
49:05 Working with a singer with suspected or diagnosed MTD
About the presenter click HERE
RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS
BAST Blog – Singing and the Premenstrual Voice
Singing Teachers Talk – Ep.108 Navigating the Adolescent Female Voice Change with Wendy Rolls
Singing Teachers Talk – Ep,59 Top Tongue Tips for Boosting High Frequency Energy with Kerrie Obert
Singing Teachers Talk – Ep.151 How to Sing with Twang with Kerrie Obert
Dr Bastian – Vocal Fold Swelling Checks
Lori’s Blog – How to Identify Muscular vs. Mucosal Fatigue and What to do About it
Walt Fritz
Singing Teachers Talk – Ep.193 How to Master Tongue Tension for Better Singing with Walt Fritz
Singing Teachers Talk – Ep.171 A Guide to Vocal Self-Massage for Singers with Robert Price
Singing Teachers Talk – Ep.90 Help! I’ve Got a Voice Problem with Lydia Hart and Stephen King
ABOUT THE GUEST
Lori L. Sonnenberg is a Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Clinical Voice Specialist, and Singing Voice Specialist. In her clinical work, she combines her passion for treating injured voices with her extensive background as a singer and voice teacher. As a voice teacher she uses her unique background to help singers of all ages, styles and genres overcome vocal difficulties and develop the voice to its full potential. She has achieved remarkable results in working with her own students and patients as well as in assisting some of the country’s most respected voice teachers and clinicians.
In her voice clinic, Ms. Sonnenberg works exclusively with voice and breathing disorders and specializes in muscle tension dysphonia related disorders, recovery from voice injuries, professional voice care and support, post-operative voice recovery, and problematic technical voice issues for singers. After a successful and rewarding career as a team member at a busy voice center and laryngology practice, she is now the Owner and CEO of Lori L. Sonnenberg, Ltd. As a voice educator and professional speaker, Ms. Sonnenberg is a frequent guest lecturer and clinician for music schools, vocal departments and professional organizations supporting the vocal health and wellness of singers, voice teachers and music/choral educators. She lectures at the state, local, regional and national levels with a special focus on helping vocalists and educators manage their busy vocal lifestyles. She has developed a highly successful method for helping her patients and students detect and prevent vocal injuries with long-term results.
Website: sonnenbergvoice.com
Instagram: @sonnenbergvoice
