If you struggle with voice problems such as stuttering or lisps, you’ve probably done your fair share of research on possible treatments. You may have come across the Nance Appliance while searching the internet, and you might be wondering what it’s used for and how it could improve your voice. This article will explain everything you need to know about the Nance Appliance, including who uses it, how it works, and why it could help you get rid of your voice problem. Let’s jump right in!
What is a Nance appliance
A Nance appliance is a surgical device that helps guide tongue movement. This can improve speech by correcting jaw muscle weakness, correcting abnormal tongue movements, or helping an individual open their mouth more easily for breathing. Before using a Nance appliance, it’s important to have your doctor give you a physical examination to make sure you’re healthy enough for surgery. Because of possible complications from these appliances, you also need to make sure your doctor is experienced in administering them. Your doctor will also take x-rays of your neck and jaw to determine if surgery is right for you. If so, they will refer you to an ear, nose, and throat surgeon who can perform the operation on an outpatient basis. The whole process should only take about one hour.
Who do you see about getting one?
If you’re experiencing hoarseness, a doctor may be able to help. Most physicians know that voice issues are common among people who work in high-stress professions, so they should be open to prescribing a Nance device. Talk to your primary care physician or find an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) who has experience with these devices to see if you’re a good candidate for one. A third option is to get in touch with somebody from a voice therapy center; these centers have speech pathologists on staff who can diagnose what’s causing your problem and advise on whether or not getting an Nance device is worth it. The best way to make sure you’re talking to someone.
who knows about these things is by asking them questions like: What’s your experience with Nance devices? Have you ever prescribed one before? Are there any downsides I should know about? Do I need special training before using one? Do I need a prescription? What kind of insurance will cover it? Who do I talk to at my company about getting permission to use one at work? The answers will give you a sense of how knowledgeable they are. And if they don’t seem like an expert, ask where else you could go for advice.
Will you have to talk to people with your mouth closed all the time.
An unfortunate side effect of using a Nance appliance is that you’ll likely have to have a mouth full of food or drink anytime you talk. To ensure your enunciation isn’t affected, your speech language pathologist may require you to avoid making certain sounds (like s, z, l and more) while speaking with a full mouth. There are also special exercises you can do to help practice your speech patterns while talking with a filled mouth. In addition, there are exercises that encourage airflow into your lungs when speaking — be sure to work on those in conjunction with any specific training your SLP has for you.
Can the device be removed while you speak.
Removal of a naso-pharyngeal tube (or Nance) is quick and easy. If you need to speak while wearing it, you should be able to remove it as soon as you’re done talking. Removing it will also make your voice sound more natural since you won’t be speaking through an impeded airway.
Can this help with swallowing issues as well.
Yes, a Nance appliance can help with swallowing issues as well. Swallowing problems are becoming more common due to age-related conditions, like Parkinson’s Disease, dementia or ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). A swallow study could reveal that you have reduced or complete loss of tongue movement to keep food from going into your airway. You may also lack control over swallowing muscles in your mouth and throat or experience excessive coughing when you try to swallow a drink or food. While speech therapy is considered an important component of treatment for these patients, it may not be enough for some people—and at that point it might be time to look into dental appliances as well.
Will you have discomfort during speech therapy.
If you’re considering a Nance appliance for your voice problem, then there’s probably an issue with your tongue that needs to be fixed. Generally, these appliances are designed to correct a muscle imbalance or address a medical problem (such as sleep apnea). There is some debate about whether or not people need to be uncomfortable in order to gain benefit from them. In most cases, it will take some time for your muscles to adjust to their new positions; if you have any discomfort at all during speech therapy, make sure you let your therapist know. If he/she doesn’t alleviate it promptly with massage or other interventions, then it might be best for you not continue using that device.
Will there be pain involved when using the device.
There is some discomfort when using it, but it does not have anything to do with pain. When someone talks about experiencing pain from using their Nance appliance, they are typically referring to soreness in their throat area caused by having to use their voice more frequently than usual. In order to get used to speaking with your device you will need to be prepared for some initial soreness in your throat after a day or two of usage, but as long as you are able to maintain proper technique while speaking while wearing your device there should be no further irritation and soreness of any kind.
Can the device be used for vocal chord polyps.
Since these small growths develop on your vocal folds, a device that’s designed to improve your voice could be used for polyps as well. A common question patients who have been diagnosed with a vocal fold lesion ask is How can I fix my damaged vocal folds? Vocal chord polyps are an answer to that question. If you already have a condition called Vocal Fold Cysts, one of these devices can help you in your efforts to get better. The device is called an Articulator or Nay-Slipener, but either way it’s just another name for one of our favorite devices: The Nance Appliance or Stryker Glottal Stop Unloader!