14 Vocal Symptoms, Detected Automatically
Stop guessing what's wrong — the app tells you
SonaLab is a voice analysis and training tool, not a medical device. Symptom detection and scores are for reference only and do not constitute medical advice or diagnosis. Consult a qualified physician for persistent voice discomfort.
Closure Symptoms
Extrinsic CompensationStrain
Phonation should only require the vocal folds to work. But sometimes when the vocal folds are fatigued or inefficient, the body sends in "reinforcements" — the extrinsic laryngeal muscles (muscles around the neck and jaw). The problem is: the more these reinforcements help, the more tired the voice gets.
Insufficient ClosureBreathy
The vocal folds aren't closing properly — either too breathy or too pressed.
SqueezeSqueeze
The glottis is squeezed too tight, blocking airflow and making the voice tight and effortful.
Register Symptoms
Register BreakBreak
When moving from low to high notes, the voice suddenly "jumps" at a certain point without a smooth transition.
Insufficient ThinningHeavy
The vocal folds don't thin out in time when singing high notes, leaving the voice stuck in a "thick" state.
Insufficient ThicknessThin
In the low range the vocal folds are too thin and lack mass, making the voice thin and weak.
Resonance Symptoms
Tongue RetractionRetracted
Tongue retraction means the root of the tongue pulls backward, blocking the passage behind the throat. The sound can't get out, so it becomes muffled.
Insufficient CompressionWeak
A well-compressed voice is like a flashlight — the beam is focused and reaches far. A voice with insufficient compression is like a bare light bulb — the light scatters and doesn't carry.
Excessive CompressionOver
The voice is over-compressed, sounding overly "sharp" or "tight."
Excessive NasalityNasal
The velum (soft palate) acts like a curtain at the back of the mouth. When the curtain is drawn up (raised), sound exits through the mouth; when the curtain is open (lowered), sound exits through the nose. Excessive nasality means the curtain stays open, allowing too much sound into the nasal cavity.
Vibrato Symptoms
Excessive VibratoExcessive
Vibrato extent is too wide, making the voice sound "wobbly" and unsteady.
Insufficient VibratoInsufficient
Vibrato is too little or completely absent, making the voice sound "straight" and lacking movement.
Irregular VibratoIrregular
Vibrato fluctuates in speed and width, lacking consistency.
