Voice

How do I know if my child has a voice problem?

A child may have difficulty with their voice when it frequently sounds:

rough or hoarse
husky
nasal (like they are talking through their nose)
unusual or different to their friends' voices

Some children may lose their voice completely at times.

Graphic of child sitting on floor and playing with connector toys

How can I help my child with a voice problem?

try to reduce situations where your child is yelling; for example, try not to yell across a room or playground, instead encourage them to walk over to talk to someone
try to reduce situations where your child is talking over the top of noise; for example, loud music
encourage periods of quiet activities to give the voice a rest; for example, looking at books or doing a construction or craft activity

Who should I talk to if I am concerned about my child's voice?

If you have any concerns about your child's voice talk to your child's doctor who may refer your child to a specialist or a speech language therapist.

References:

If you would like to look at anything in more detail, this list of references [1] might be a good starting point.

Acknowledgements:

The content on this page has been produced in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and adapted from Much more than words | Manuka takoto, kawea ake (2014) [2].

External links and downloads (see the online version for more information at other websites)

Information on communication development | Ministry of Education [3]

This booklet is for supporting the communication development of young tamariki. Family, whānau, early childhood educators, kaiako, health professionals and others may find it useful. It includes information about typical communication development in young children and ideas for supporting them. The booklet was published by the Ministry of Education in 2014.

Plunket for concerns about speech or language development [4]

If you are concerned about your child's language or speech development, you could discuss your concerns with your Plunket nurse or other Well Child provider. Check the Plunket website for a Plunket near you [5]. Plunket also offers an early childhood health telephone help service. It is available to all families, whānau and caregivers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call PlunketLine free on 0800 933 922.

NZ Speech-Language Therapists' Association [6]

Speech language therapists are employed in the Ministry of Education, special schools, hospitals, and in private practice. To find a speech language therapist, you can contact the Ministry of Education, Special Education on 0800 622 222 (you can self-refer to a Ministry of Education speech-language therapist); email a query to special.education@minedu.govt.nz [7]; see where to find speech and language therapists at the NZ Speech-Language Therapists' Association website [8]; ask your child's teacher to refer your child or look in the phone book's yellow pages under speech language therapy for speech language therapists in private practice.

This page last reviewed 17 November 2020.
Email us [9] your feedback