Spasmodic Dysphonia & Muscle Tension Dysphonia Exercises

Drew Hanson
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Semiweekly

Welcome to the Spasmodic Dysphonia Exercises Podcast, where we show up — voice cracks, tough days, and all — to retrain and reconnect with our voices. In today’s episode, we guide you through a full vocal drill routine designed specifically for individuals managing Spasmodic Dysphonia, Muscle Tension Dysphonia, and other voice disorders. This session includes: Gentle warm-ups for vocal coordinationRepetitive “Me-Me” and “Nim-Nim” sequencesBreath-supported patterns to reduce vocal strainEncouragement for consistency — even on imperfect daysWhether you're commuting, stretching, or quietly working through your daily voice routine, this episode is a supportive companion in your vocal recovery journey. You don’t have to push — you just have to show up. 🎙️ Hosted by: Drew Hanson 🎧 New episodes released regularly to keep your practice strong. #SpasmodicDysphonia #VoiceExercises #VocalTherapy #SpeechTherapy #DrewHanson #VoiceRecovery #DailyVoiceDrills #AudioTherapy #SDRecovery #VocalHealth

  1. 3d ago

    Beginner Voice Exercises for Spasmodic Dysphonia | Reset Your Voice

    Sometimes the best thing you can do for your voice is go all the way back to the beginning. Today we're doing EXTREME BEGINNER voice exercises for Spasmodic Dysphonia. No complicated drills. No trying to overpower the voice. No trying to make anything hurt. We start with one of the simplest resets I use: humming “Happy Birthday” to establish placement. From there we move into counting, breath-to-mask connection, sustained sound, lip work and finally a little tongue-tension work. The goal throughout this workout is simple: PLACEMENT — NOT POWER. If you're brand new to voice exercises, having a rough voice day, or you've been doing more advanced exercises and simply need a reset, this is a good place to start. And remember — I’ve been doing these exercises for roughly 15 years. Don’t compare where your voice is today to where mine is today. Improvement takes repetition, patience and commitment. I still have Spasmodic Dysphonia. I still have bad voice days. The goal is not perfection. The goal is learning how to work with the voice you have and continuing to improve. WATCH: https://youtu.be/X7OUbjI-bxo CHAPTERS 00:00 Back to the absolute basics 00:17 Beginning of the beginning 00:42 Humming “Happy Birthday” 00:57 Finding proper placement 02:09 Breath support and placement 02:57 Count to ten and test the voice 03:25 More placement work 04:05 Sustained sound exercise 04:46 Connecting breath to the mask 05:44 Lip exercise 06:48 Tongue tension 07:13 Placement, not power 08:08 Don’t compare your voice to mine 08:45 Best repetition of the day 09:07 My 1999 Britney Spears interview is coming 09:30 Wrap-up COMING SOON: I recently found an interview I did with Britney Spears in 1999. More importantly for this channel, it captures what my Spasmodic Dysphonia sounded like in its earlier stages. I’m going to share that footage to give some perspective on where my voice was then compared with where it is now. SpasmodicDysphoniaExercises.com This channel documents the exercises, techniques and experiences that have helped me work with my own Spasmodic Dysphonia. I am not a doctor, speech-language pathologist or medical professional. This content reflects my own experience and should not replace diagnosis, treatment or advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Subscribe for more Spasmodic Dysphonia exercises, interviews, lifestyle conversations and real-world voice disorder content. Or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get audio podcasts. #SpasmodicDysphonia #VoiceExercises #LaryngealDystonia #VoiceDisorder #Dysphonia

    Beginner Voice Exercises for Spasmodic Dysphonia | Reset Your Voice

  2. 5d ago

    Roger Love Daily Voice Workout | Full 15-Minute Session

    Today I’m doing the full 15-minute Roger Love daily voice workout from beginning to end. It’s been a while since I’ve done the complete Roger Love routine in one of these videos. I’ve been shortening things and moving a little quicker lately, so this time I wanted to go back and do the full session. Follow along with me, work your voice, and see how you feel when we get to the other side. By the end of this one, I felt great — and ready to go out into the day with a stronger, more powerful voice. :chatgpt-content-reference{index="1"} More exercises, conversations and real-world work with spasmodic dysphonia: SpasmodicDysphoniaExercises.com Subscribe for more voice exercise videos and follow the podcast on your favorite platform — or wherever you get audio podcasts. #SpasmodicDysphonia #VoiceExercises #RogerLove #VoiceWorkout #Dysphonia

    Roger Love Daily Voice Workout | Full 15-Minute Session

  3. Sep 28

    So… I Made a Decision: Private Coaching Is Here

    I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. In this episode, I finally say it out loud. The new Spasmodic Dysphonia Exercises website is live, and I’m officially opening private one-on-one coaching by video. I talk about why I hesitated, why I finally decided to step up, nearly 30 years of living with Spasmodic Dysphonia, what I have — and have not — figured out, and what private coaching with me will actually look like. I also want to be completely clear: I’m not cured. I’m not a doctor or speech-language pathologist, and this is not a replacement for medical care. I’m somebody who has lived with this for nearly three decades and spent years figuring out what helps my own voice. If you’re interested in coaching, there’s an intake questionnaire first. I’ll personally review it, contact you and schedule a private video session. And if you have questions before booking, please ask me. SpasmodicDysphoniaExercises.com drew@spasmodicdysphoniaexercises.com Watch the video announcement: https://youtu.be/tm3ArMaiogg Listen here or wherever you get audio podcasts. #SpasmodicDysphonia #LaryngealDystonia #SpasmodicDysphoniaExercises #VoiceExercises #VoiceDisorder #Dysphonia #VoiceCoaching #VocalExercises

    So… I Made a Decision: Private Coaching Is Here

  4. Sep 25

    Stop Pushing: Finding Better Voice Placement

    Today we’re doing The Attack Drill — a combination of lip rolls, breath support, placement work and exercises aimed at reducing tongue tension. A major theme throughout this session is learning not to fight against the voice by pushing harder. Instead, we work on making the sound feel smaller, easier and more forward while allowing the breath to support it. We move through lip rolls, a Roger Love placement exercise, middle/head voice work, tongue-to-roof exercises, forward “WE” sounds and tongue-out lip rolls. If anything hurts, stop. This exercise is about placement and coordination — not forcing your way through tension. The goal is to learn what better placement feels like and build enough repetition that it becomes easier to recognize and find again. Watch the video version on the Spasmodic Dysphonia Exercises YouTube channel, or listen wherever you get audio podcasts. And there’s a major announcement coming Monday.

    Stop Pushing: Finding Better Voice Placement

  5. Sep 24

    Resetting the Voice With Straw and Water Exercises

    Today we’re going back to one of my original beginner exercises for spasmodic dysphonia: the straw-and-water drill. We’ll work through posture, breath support, easy pitch glides, conversational mini-glides and resonance while focusing on keeping the voice light instead of forcing the beginning of words. We’ll also work on finding that forward “buzz” and then carrying the feeling back into regular speech. The point is repetition — learning what the voice feels like when things are working well, recognizing when they aren’t, and practicing your way back toward that better coordination. And naturally, the entire exercise is performed using an extremely old barbecue sauce bottle that I apparently have an emotional attachment to. Watch the video version on the Spasmodic Dysphonia Exercises YouTube channel, or listen wherever you get audio podcasts. Big announcement coming Monday.

    Resetting the Voice With Straw and Water Exercises

  6. Sep 15

    Cathy Merkle Roddy Returns: Spasmodic Dysphonia, the Nervous System & Finding Your Voice

    Cathy Merkle Roddy returns for our second conversation about Spasmodic Dysphonia, voice disorders, nervous-system regulation, trauma, stress, self-editing, confidence, and the emotional weight that comes with losing trust in your own voice. One line from Cathy really stuck with me: “Having your voice back is freedom.” We also get into people pleasing, perfectionism, skepticism around alternative approaches, why lived experience matters, and the importance of not letting a diagnosis become a permanent identity. Cathy also shares details about her upcoming Overcoming Voice Disorders challenge. Find Cathy here: Facebook Group: Healing Voice Disorders Naturally Facebook: Cathy Merkle Roddy YouTube: Healing Voice Disorders Naturally TikTok: Healing Voice Disorders Naturally Instagram: @revealingthehealing Overcoming Spasmodic Dysphonia Masterclass / 5-Day Challenge: https://www.revealingthehealing.net/overcoming-spasmodic-dysphonia-masterclass-5-day-challenge-144de4ac-a7989c55 Watch the full video interview: https://youtu.be/R2NEiYywBNU This conversation reflects personal experiences and opinions and is not intended as medical advice.

    Cathy Merkle Roddy Returns: Spasmodic Dysphonia, the Nervous System & Finding Your Voice

  7. Sep 11

    Cord Closure / Adduction Voice Exercise — Archive Lesson

    I had a whole old-school Friday video recorded, and then the recording stopped one minute in. So this episode pivots into the archive. This is a never-before-seen voice lesson with instructor Jeff focused on cord closure, also called adduction. The lesson works through short vowel syllables, airflow coordination, vocal fold closure, and simple exercises using “we,” “he,” and “you.” As always, use your own discretion. I’m not a professional voice coach. I’m someone with spasmodic dysphonia sharing exercises, lessons, and tools that have helped me. Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/xO0RQY4yGRY

    Cord Closure / Adduction Voice Exercise — Archive Lesson

  8. Sep 9

    EXTREME Beginner Voice Reset for Spasmodic Dysphonia

    This is the beginning of the beginner. In this episode, Drew slows everything down for an extreme beginner spasmodic dysphonia exercise session focused on breath, mask placement, repetition, the simple V sound, and resetting the voice without pushing. This is for anyone who feels intimidated by bigger voice exercises like Attack, straw work, middle voice, or head voice. Drew is not a professional voice coach. He is someone living with spasmodic dysphonia, sharing exercises and tools that have helped him. Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Pv5QkCv3sQw Or listen wherever you get audio podcasts.

    EXTREME Beginner Voice Reset for Spasmodic Dysphonia
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About

Welcome to the Spasmodic Dysphonia Exercises Podcast, where we show up — voice cracks, tough days, and all — to retrain and reconnect with our voices. In today’s episode, we guide you through a full vocal drill routine designed specifically for individuals managing Spasmodic Dysphonia, Muscle Tension Dysphonia, and other voice disorders. This session includes: Gentle warm-ups for vocal coordinationRepetitive “Me-Me” and “Nim-Nim” sequencesBreath-supported patterns to reduce vocal strainEncouragement for consistency — even on imperfect daysWhether you're commuting, stretching, or quietly working through your daily voice routine, this episode is a supportive companion in your vocal recovery journey. You don’t have to push — you just have to show up. 🎙️ Hosted by: Drew Hanson 🎧 New episodes released regularly to keep your practice strong. #SpasmodicDysphonia #VoiceExercises #VocalTherapy #SpeechTherapy #DrewHanson #VoiceRecovery #DailyVoiceDrills #AudioTherapy #SDRecovery #VocalHealth

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