Glottal Fry

Information taken from A Healthier Wei and Osborne Head and Neck Institute

WHAT IS GLOTTAL FRY?

Glottal fry also known as vocal fry is caused by air escaping through the vocal folds which causes small irregular vibration.  This vibration causes the voice to sound slow, low-pitch, “raspy”, and / or “hoarse”.  Many people produce glottal fry toward the end of the day due to overuse of their voice.  Glottal fry may also happen at the end of a long phrase when it feels like most of the air has been depleted.  Glottal fry is not harmful when it is produced infrequently.  However, this may become problematic when produced excessively.       

HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD AT HOME?

Giving your child plenty of water will help hydrate the vocal folds and help decrease some glottal fry.  You may want to seek professional help from an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) physician.  An ENT specializes in medical and surgical treatment of the throat (including Glottal Fry).  

OUR APPROACH AT KEY THERAPIES:

We will develop an individualized treatment plan for each child based off of his / her current needs. Strategies to improve glottal fry may include respiratory support to help increase the pitch of an individual’s voice.    

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