The Role of Speech Pathology in the Care of Patients with EDS and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder

“Why do I need to see a speech pathologist? There is nothing wrong with my speech.” This question and statement combination start many of my evaluations. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) treat many conditions (e.g., speech, language, voice, breathing, swallowing, etc.) across the lifespan.

Patients with EDS/HSD are more likely to experience voice changes, swallow difficulty, and breathing difficulties associated with the larynx (voice box) compared to the general population. Seeing an SLP who specializes in these areas and is familiar with EDS/HSD can improve these symptoms. Voice therapy involves completing exercises to re-align the subsystems of voicing (breathing, vocal fold vibration, and resonation). Swallow therapy involves exercises to strengthen and coordinate the muscle movements associated with the swallow. And respiratory retraining therapy involves exercises to improve breathing dynamics and reduce the frequency and severity of breathing difficulty. It is important for patients with these diagnoses to see an SLP familiar with treating this population because, like physical therapy, some types of therapy can make symptoms worse. For more information on SLP at Mayo Clinic, visit Speech Pathology. Stay tuned as we explore more topics on this site related to EDS/HSD.

Author: Stacey M. Menton, MM, MA, CCC-SLP