Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises (SOVTEs) as Prescriptive and Behavioral Voice Tools
SOVTEs: Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises are tools like lip trills, straw phonation, and cup bubbles (among many others) that create “back pressure” in the vocal tract (send pressure backwards from the mouth to the top of the vocal folds) by creating a partial cover at the sound’s exit (the mouth). The higher the back pressure, the harder it is for the vocal folds to squeeze because air is pushing them apart from the top and bottom. (It’s hard to overpower those dual pressures by squeezing between the vocal folds.) The level of “squeeze” between the vocal folds is called “transglottal pressure”. Additionally, SOVTEs shake/massage the surface of the vocal folds, which increases blood flow to the tissues and helps with healing and inflammation. Finally, using an SOVTE requires the user to create consistent airflow. BASICALLY: They are VERY SAFE (if done efficiently)! But, SOVTEs are not a “catch all”/fix all, especially in the case of pathology.
Do you have a continuous, irresistible urge to cough or clear your throat, even when you're not sick? Or, do you have odd sensations and even pain in your throat with no obvious cause? Maybe you've been told your lungs are clear, your reflux is under control, and your allergies aren't severe enough to explain your symptoms, yet the symptoms continue.
One possible explanation is a condition called “neurolaryngeal hypersensitivity” (NLH).