Resonant Voice Therapy (RVT) is a highly effective, evidence-based voice therapy method developed to optimize voice production with minimal physical effort. This technique focuses on the physical sensation of voice—specifically, the feeling of vibrations in the face and mouth, known as resonance. By training an individual to feel this forward focus, RVT teaches a new way to produce a clear, strong voice that is less prone to fatigue and injury.
Core Principles of Resonant Voice
RVT is a physiological approach, meaning it works by rebalancing the three main subsystems of voice production: respiration, phonation, and resonance. The primary goal is to achieve maximum vocal output with the least amount of impact stress on the vocal folds. This efficiency is achieved by manipulating the acoustic energy within the vocal tract, the space above the vocal folds, including the throat, mouth, and nasal passages.
The concept of a “forward focus” is central to this technique, encouraging the patient to feel the vibrations in the “mask” of the face, such as the lips, teeth, and nose. This sensation acts as immediate feedback, confirming that the voice is being produced efficiently. When the acoustic energy is focused forward, it creates a semi-occluded vocal tract posture, which is slightly narrowed at the lips or mouth.
This slight narrowing of the vocal tract, often achieved through sounds like “mmm,” creates a beneficial back pressure that pushes airflow back toward the vocal folds. This back pressure helps the vocal folds to vibrate more efficiently with less force from the surrounding laryngeal muscles. Studies using laryngeal imaging show that a resonant voice is produced with the vocal folds in a barely abducted, or slightly open, configuration.
This balanced configuration reduces the collision force between the vocal folds during vibration, thereby minimizing the likelihood of vocal injury. The resulting acoustic effect is a voice that is clear and rich in quality, allowing for increased projection without the need to push or strain the throat. The reduction of effort and strain makes the voice more sustainable for long periods of use.
Conditions Treated and Ideal Candidates
RVT is widely used to treat a variety of voice disorders, particularly those related to excessive muscle use or strain. It is an effective intervention for functional voice disorders such as muscle tension dysphonia, where muscles around the larynx are overly tight during speech. RVT also provides therapeutic benefits for structural changes like vocal fold nodules and polyps.
The technique promotes a healthier, less forceful vibration pattern, allowing irritated or injured tissues to recover. Individuals with vocal fold paralysis who need to improve the strength and clarity of their voice can also benefit. RVT is frequently recommended for professional voice users, including teachers, singers, actors, and public speakers, who rely heavily on their voice.
For these occupational voice users, RVT serves as a preventative measure to build stamina and vocal economy, helping them maintain a healthy voice despite heavy demands. The therapy is appropriate for anyone seeking to improve vocal clarity, increase projection, and reduce general vocal fatigue.
The Therapeutic Process
The Resonant Voice Therapy process is structured, progressing from simple sounds to complex conversational speech. The initial phase focuses on developing the patient’s sensory awareness, teaching them to identify the physical feeling of resonance. This is typically achieved using humming exercises and nasal consonants like “m,” “n,” or “ng,” which naturally direct vibration to the facial mask area.
Once the patient consistently feels this vibration, the Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) introduces the resonant sound into short, simple syllables like “moo,” “may,” or “me.” The exercises are then systematically varied in pitch, loudness, and duration to challenge the patient’s ability to maintain the resonant quality across different vocal demands.
The next stage involves incorporating the resonant voice into short phrases and sentences, often starting with nasal-dominated phrases, such as “My mom made a meal.” This is frequently done using a slightly exaggerated, melodic speech pattern known as “chant talk” to facilitate easy phonation. The goal is to make the new voice production pattern feel natural and automatic.
As the patient progresses, the SLP guides them to use the resonant voice in increasingly complex and spontaneous communication, moving from structured sentences to reading paragraphs and finally to conversational speech. Home practice is a fundamental component of the therapy, requiring the patient to integrate the new vocal behaviors into their daily life outside of the clinical setting.