History of the LAX VOX® ¿ tube exercise

Marketta Sihvo, Ph.D. on voice ergonomics, developed the ideas "less is more", and "learn by doing" to a short vocal therapy and self-care with LAX VOX®-exercise, voicing into a silicon tube in water. The one year long follow-up study of her patients' subjective opinions gave encouraging results. She has shared her ideas in voice conferences.

More than 25 years ago I found the inert material, silicon, for my therapy exercise. In my voice therapy I used with all patients the palpable inert tube, that was named LAX VOX. Thanks to the multi-sensory feed-back they quickly understood and felt relief. They eagerly started the daily training and did not wish long therapy. Basing on the patient's remarks I composed explanations in colloquial language and illustrations. - The oral pressure rises due to the water, and prevents excessive laryngeal tensions and improves the control of breathing. The conscious motor model serves as the bridge to habitual ergonomic speech. - I wanted to test this exercise truly, asking the patients' own opinions. The efficacy of the LAX VOX®-tube aided short voice therapy, 3-5 sessions, was tested five times during one year from two points of view, the Voice Activation and Participation Profiles, and the severity of dysphonic symptoms. The results show statistically significant improvements.