Muscle Tension Dysphonia and Puberphonia

Abstract

The voice has a significant role in oral communication and is important as an expression of our health, emotion, gender, and age. It forms part of one’s individual identity and personality. In children, this organ is developing in physical structure along with the rest of the speech mechanism. At the same time, the neurocognitive, behavioral growth and maturation of the child occurs. The larynx has highly developed neural connections, so it is not surprising that the voice is sensitive to neural input and control. This includes input derived from emotional centers in the brain. The larynx has been labeled “the valve of emotion” (Roy et al. J Voice 11:443-1, 1997). It is highly responsive to emotional state and stress at all ages.