Skip to main content

speech/language question, please

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

What speech and language term am I looking for to describe a problem with controlling and knowing appropriate volume of your voice?

My son (10) has difficulty with adjusting his volume. I usually have to remind him to bring it down a notch. When he was younger I remember that he could not grasp the concept of whispering and when he would consciously try it just came out as a lowered voice.

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 07/27/2002 - 1:43 PM

Permalink

I think it is modulation too but to be honest we called it volume control in school. You don’t really want a child to whisper actually, it is bad for the voice. Occasionally is alright. I call it buzz voice and no buzz voice. He can feel his vocal chords in his neck to see which one it is (whispering has less vibration-technically none but usually some comes through and that is ok). You should also have his hearing checked or his auditory processing checked. I talk loudly and my collegues often joke I have a hearing loss. I don’t but I do have ADHD and some SI issues related to noise. Have him tape record his voice and listen to it (feedback is the method you use for this). Have him judge what voice you use, soft, medium (what you want) or loud. Then have him work on the buzz no buzz concept.

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 07/31/2002 - 7:38 AM

Permalink

Gee, I have modulation problems myself — can’t judge how loud I need to be depending on environment. (Also my ex-husband was grossly over-sensitive, why he ever wanted to be with me I do not know, he was after me to lower my voice every time I talked.) I have no trouble at all being heard in every part of a classroom or a theater, but am always criticized in social situations. I don’t know if there is any way to deal with this — got any ideas, Cheryl?

Back to Top