highly personal and comprehensive
voice therapy and speech pathology services,
for both adults and children,
providing the tools and support to
Find Your Voice
The ability to communicate freely and to be understood by others is an integral part of who we are as humans. Whether you are a person who relies on your voice to make your living, a person with Parkinson’s, or have a child who stutters or can’t say their speech sounds correctly, Olive Voice and Speech is here to help you meet your communication needs.
We provide professional, compassionate, and inclusive care to help you or your child on your communication journey.
Olive Voice and Speech offers online and in-person voice and speech services to adults and children.
Meet Meghann Olive
M.S. CCC-SLP
I am a passionate speech-language pathologist who specializes in voice and upper airway disorders. As a classically trained singer, I have studied the voice as a musician and performer, and as a voice scientist. I hold a certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and am licensed to practice speech-language pathology in the state of Connecticut.
A passion for singing brought me to New York University where I received my undergraduate degree in Music Education and Voice. After performing as a singer and teaching music to children for 10 years throughout New York City, I decided to study Speech-Language Pathology in order to expand my knowledge of the voice and to help those with voice disorders. I hold a Master's degree in Speech, Language, and Learning from Northwestern University. I completed my clinical fellowship year and first years as a certified SLP specializing in voice at the Voice Center at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Chicago, and have worked in various additional settings including public schools, and private practice.
Additional certifications that I hold include: Myofascial Release (Walt Fritz Foundations of Manual Therapy), PhoRTE, SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program, and Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD). I have participated in vocal health presentations to high school and university groups, and to NATS groups (National Association of Teachers of Singing) on how to use our voices efficiently and effectively. I am also an ASHA ACE Award recipient.
About Our Services
What is Voice Therapy ?
Voice therapy is an individualized program that involves both education on how to keep your voice healthy (aka “vocal hygiene”) and targeted exercises that seek to balance the subsystems of voice production (respiration, phonation, and resonance). The goal of voice therapy is to restore the voice back to healthy functioning so that you can sound like yourself again. Although each individual case is different, voice therapy is typically about 10 sessions, at 1x/week.
Common Diagnoses Treated include
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Muscle Tension Dysphonia
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Aging Voice (Presbyphonia)
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Voice changes related to Parkinson’s Disease
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Hoarseness
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Benign vocal cord lesions (Vocal Cord Nodules, Polyps, Cysts)
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Vocal Cord Paralysis
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Vocal Fatigue
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Chronic Cough
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Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD)/
Paradoxical Vocal Cord Motion (PVFM) -
Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR)
Who We Treat
Children
We work with children with voice disorders, in addition to articulation and phonological disorders, and with children who stutter.
Adults
We help patients with Parkinson's disease improve their voice and speech as well as assist those with voice and upper airway disorders. Professional voice users, or those whose voices are vital to their profession, are at a higher risk for voice disorders and are often candidates for voice therapy. Some examples of professional voice users we treat are:
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Teachers
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Coaches
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Singers
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Actors
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Courtroom Attorneys
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Clergy
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Salespeople
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and more
My Approach
My approach to voice therapy is holistic: our voices are connected to the rest of our bodies, and if something is out of balance, our voices can reflect that. When we work together, we will mindfully examine the components of voice production (breathing, vibration at the level of the vocal folds, and resonance), and explore how to regain the balance that our bodies are naturally designed to have. With this restored balance, your voice will reclaim its strength and clarity, and you will sound more like yourself again.
With children, my approach is fun, engaging, and play-based. I encourage and enjoy collaborating with families to meet the individual needs of your children.
What to Expect
Before voice therapy begins, a comprehensive voice evaluation is completed. During the voice evaluation, information is gathered regarding your current areas of concern and any additional pertinent medical history. An auditory/perceptual assessment is completed to analyze the pitch, loudness, and overall quality of your voice. Acoustic and aerodynamic testing may also be completed to quantify these auditory/perceptual parameters, to reveal the efficiency of airflow for voice production, and to provide pre- and post-treatment measures. The information gathered in the comprehensive voice evaluation informs us about the nature and severity of the voice problem, and how to plan treatment accordingly to meet your specific needs.
If you have not already completed an evaluation with an ENT (Ear, Nose, & Throat) physician, it may be recommended before voice therapy can begin. If you have had symptoms such as hoarseness, roughness, loss of voice, discomfort while talking or singing, increased effort, or any other changes in speech, swallowing, throat sensation, or voice quality for two weeks or more, it is recommended that you see an ENT who can visualize your vocal folds and determine any underlying causes for your voice problem.
Get Started with a Free Consultation
Our Contact Info
Phone
Address
203-293-0228
1698 Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880
Fax
203-987-4825