Episode 66: PhoRTE Voice Therapy: Revving Up the Aging Voice with Edie Hapner, PhD, CCC-SLP, and Aaron Ziegler, PhD, CCC-SLP ​

Age-related voice changes (presbyphonia) are characterized by decreased loudness, increased hoarseness, and greater vocal effort. Patients with presbyphonia demonstrate different pathogenic profiles of laryngeal and respiratory deficits. Such deficits are thought to arise from negative changes to muscle structure and muscle strength or function in addition to the aging process. Phonation Resistance Training Exercises (PhoRTE) is a Level 1B voice therapy to treat presbyphonia (that is, published prospective, randomized, and controlled clinical trial). PhoRTE voice therapy is guided by principles of exercise physiology and requires patients to produce progressively higher vocal intensities during vocal tasks. By progressively overloading the phonatory system in PhoRTE, patients regain their vocal power with less vocal effort. Importantly, PhoRTE voice therapy places a strong emphasis on understanding the values of successful aging to promote communication, socialization, and vocation in our older adult population. Show Notes: https://www.speechuncensored.com/podcastepisodes/s3e17