James Smithson

We’ve all experienced a hoarse voice after a big night out or when we’re unwell with a cold. However, people experiencing voice difficulties typically find their voice is consistently or intermittently problematic. This might affect the quality of the voice, the volume, pitch, vocal strength and stamina, and can even present as no voice at all. We typically call this ‘dysphonia’ if the voice has changed or ‘aphonia’ if there is complete lack of voice.

What makes a voice disorder different to a change in quality when you have a cold is the consistency and impact of the problem. If your voice is affecting your social life, professional duties, ability to participate or how you feel about yourself, voice therapy with Vocability is a great way to improve your vocal quality and confidence.

Although sessions often involve exercises to improve alignment, airflow and laryngeal (voice box) efficiency, it’s often important to explore how we feel about the voice and how feelings of panic, anxiety, and fear can change how it sounds. Vocability offer therapy which is holistic and -centred, providing targeted support to improve the quality, stamina and strength of an individual’s voice, as well as building vocal confidence, reducing anxiety, and experiencing vocal freedom.

Vocability offers therapy for a wide range of presentations. If you feel your issues only affect your singing voice or only affect you when you’re projecting, presenting, or performing, we can offer tailored assessment and management plans to improve the efficiency of your voice as well as build stamina, range, and flexibility.

Professional vocal coaching is perfect for people hosting presentations, training sessions, seminars, workshops, lectures and more. This work is vocally demanding, and it’s important to use your voice safely and efficiently. Vocability can offer tailored coaching plans with one-to-one instruction to not only improve your voice, but take your presentations, sales pitches, and workshops to the next level.

An endoscopic evaluation of your larynx (camera test) allows us to assess the structure and function of your larynx and vocal folds. Vocability can offer this via the Manchester Voice Clinic alongside a highly experienced ENT Consultant at the Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle.

Vocability offers flexibility to meet your needs, budget, and time constraints. Voice therapy often takes place over a number of weeks with a session every few weeks. However, we will be motivated by how you feel about your voice and what works for you. Vocability will never tie you in to long commitments or a minimum number of sessions. Once you feel you’ve achieved your vocal goals, we’ll offer advice to enable you to maintain your progress, keeping the door open if you ever need our help again.

An initial appointment will last for 50 minutes, with follow-up sessions lasting either 30 or 50 minutes based on your preference. This applies to both face-to-face and online appointments.

Vocability offer in-person and online sessions, and moving between the two to meet your needs and availability is straightforward.

Face-to-face sessions take place in Bramhall, South Manchester. Located within RW Physio, our therapy room is spacious and comfortable. Parking is available nearby and the area offers a host of cafes, shops, restaurants and other services.

Online sessions are hosted using Microsoft Teams. You’ll receive a link to your email address prior to your appointment. We always suggest being somewhere quiet and private for your session, whilst ensuring you can make some noise and speak freely.

Sessions can be funded one of three ways:

Self-funding: If this is the case, Vocability will send you an invoice for the cost of your session either before or shortly after your appointment. Payment is due within seven days via bank transfer (BACS). Credit cards and cheques are not accepted.

Funding: There are organisations which may offer funding, typically for singers, performers and musicians, for example Help Musicians. Vocability will invoice the funder directly unless otherwise agreed.

Health insurance: Payments are currently accepted via AXA Health, Aviva and VitalityHealth. Other providers will be available soon; however, payments via Bupa are not supported. Payments are made via a dedicated system or via direct invoice.

Visit our pricing page to find out more

Most voice problems are functional in nature, meaning the way we use or look after our voice is causing it to behave differently. However, some individuals experience difficulties caused by physical problems affecting the larynx (voice box) or vocal cords. If you are concerned about this or we feel this might be the cause of your presentation, a laryngeal endoscopy by an experienced ENT doctor is recommended.

Vocability can direct you towards services providing this assessment, or you can request referral to NHS services via your GP.