It is based on the premise that most voice disorders are caused by the functional misuse or abuse of the voice components including pitch, loudness, etc. The main focus of symptomatic voice therapy is direct modification of vocal symptoms. Focuses on emotional and psychosocial status of the patient which led to and maintained the voice disorder. This therapy focuses on the identification and modification of emotional and psychosocial disturbances associated with the onset and maintenance of the voice problem. It is based on the assumption of underlying emotional causes.
Much effort is focused on identifying the direct causes of the voice disorder.
Direct symptom modification and facilitating techniques may also be used. It presumes that a measurable voice disturbance is present which can be directly modified and monitored through physical exercise of the laryngeal and respiratory systems. Exercises such as glottal attack exercises, dynamic range exercises, and vocal function exercises are used. Stresses that successful voice therapy depends on utilization of any approach that happens to work for the therapist and individual patient.