Lori L. Sonnenberg, Voice Pathologist

Lori L. Sonnenberg, Voice Pathologist Specialized voice and breathing therapy services. Comprehensive voice care services. Expert care for the singing voice and other professional voice users.

Performing arts medicine. Voice and Breathing Therapy, Speech Therapy, Singing Voice, Professional Voice Care, Transgender Voice, and Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement.

Gig season can be joyful AND demanding on your voice 🎶From back-to-back performances to cold weather and busy schedules,...
12/18/2025

Gig season can be joyful AND demanding on your voice 🎶

From back-to-back performances to cold weather and busy schedules, this time of year asks A LOT of vocalists.

These seasonal tips are here to help you manage vocal load, care for your full instrument, and show up feeling supported, not strained, at your gigs.

Save this post for your next performance week, or share it with a fellow singer!

If you’re looking for personalized vocal support, you can learn how to work with Jennifer via the link in bio.


A learning space voice teachers are loving! See what a client had to say about The Voice Teacher Collective after attend...
12/17/2025

A learning space voice teachers are loving! See what a client had to say about The Voice Teacher Collective after attending our preview workshop. 👇

“I am very excited to be a part of this group! I never want to stop learning, and this group is the supportive place to learn and grow. The first meeting was invigorating and inspiring—and I hope we continue learning from one another in this spirit of curiosity and genuine care for our students.”

This is exactly the environment we’re building inside The Voice Teacher Collective. A monthly workshop series for voice teachers who want clarity, confidence, and clinically grounded insight when vocal challenges arise in the studio.

Led by Lori Sonnenberg, MM, MA, CCC-SLP and Natalie Sheppard, BM, MA, CCC-SLP, two Singing Voice Rehabilitation Specialists, this series bridges vocal pedagogy and clinical voice care with evidence-informed tools you can apply right away.

If you’re committed to supporting healthy, consistent, and sustainable voices—and growing alongside thoughtful, passionate colleagues—this space is for you.

📤 Send us a DM to learn more or register
🗓️ Debut session begins in January

🎄Holiday parties are fun… until your voice is gone the next day Between background noise, long conversations, and a litt...
12/16/2025

🎄Holiday parties are fun… until your voice is gone the next day

Between background noise, long conversations, and a little extra cheering, it’s easy to push your voice past its limits.

These 3 vocal health tips are here to help you enjoy the season AND protect your voice, through smarter voice use, reducing strain in noisy spaces, and staying hydrated.

Save this post before your next party, and if you want personalized vocal care or support, you can learn how to work with Sarah via the link in bio.


Ready to strengthen your teaching with the kind of vocal insight you wish every voice teacher had access to?The Voice Te...
12/12/2025

Ready to strengthen your teaching with the kind of vocal insight you wish every voice teacher had access to?

The Voice Teacher Collective is a monthly workshop series designed for teachers who want clarity, confidence, and clinical-backed guidance when vocal challenges show up in the studio. Led by Lori Sonnenberg, MM, MA, CCC-SLP and Natalie Sheppard, BM, MA, CCC-SLP — two Singing Voice Rehabilitation Specialists who work at the intersection of clinical voice care and vocal pedagogy — this series helps you strengthen your teaching through evidence-informed insight and practical application.

If you’re committed to helping your singers stay healthy, consistent, and supported - this is for you.

Join us and grow alongside colleagues who care just as deeply as you do.

📤 Send us a DM to learn more or register! The debut session will begin in January.

🎤 Performance days look a little different when you’re both the artist AND an SLP.Check out a sneak peek of my Performan...
12/10/2025

🎤 Performance days look a little different when you’re both the artist AND an SLP.

Check out a sneak peek of my Performance Day Routine and learn how I prep my body, voice, and mind as a singer + SLP to show up grounded, supported, and stage-ready.

From hydration and gentle wake-ups, to fueling the athlete inside the artist, to a focused 15-minute technical check-in… none of it is flashy but all of it is intentional.

If you’re juggling heavy voice use across multiple roles (teacher, vocalist, SLP, speaker… I see you), your voice deserves the same level of care and strategy.

💬 Wondering how to build a routine that actually supports your vocal life?
Work with me at Sonnenberg Voice for expert, evidence-based voice care tailored to what you really do with your voice.

📩 DM to schedule.


When it comes to Singer’s Laryngeal Dystonia, the work of SLPs and voice teachers centers on creative behavioral managem...
12/09/2025

When it comes to Singer’s Laryngeal Dystonia, the work of SLPs and voice teachers centers on creative behavioral management. We use strategies that essentially “trick” the nervous system to help singers achieve the most functional, reliable voice possible.

While research on tools like vibrotactile stimulation and delayed auditory feedback is still inconclusive, these approaches point us toward promising directions.

At the end of the day, our goal is simple: to equip our clients, patients, and students with practical tools to manage symptoms, optimize performance, and sustain their vocal careers, with or without medical intervention.

I have really enjoyed working with my partner, Rachel Goldenberg, , on this under documented and rarely talked about diagnosis. We've both had the unique opportunity of supporting and rehabilitating professional singers with this challenging diagnosis. We are excited to share our work with the world and improve the diagnostic/treatment process.

✨It's possible to keep singing and move forward with a different voice. Send us a message to learn more about our work with this disorder!

📣 Calling all voice teachers! Are you looking to take your teaching to the next level in 2026? Are you passionate about ...
12/05/2025

📣 Calling all voice teachers! Are you looking to take your teaching to the next level in 2026? Are you passionate about the intersection of vocal health and vocal pedagogy? Do you want to teach with more confidence, clarity, and clinical insight?

Join us this January, for the FIRST EVER Voice Teacher Collective, a monthly workshop series designed for voice teachers seeking expert guidance and professional support. Registration opens soon for this ONLY ONE OF IT'S KIND offering. Yes, that's right - you won't get this experience anywhere else.

What to expect:
✨ Experience the Collective in action with interactive, case-based learning
✨ Receive real-time feedback on your toughest student cases from two Voice Rehabilitation Specialist-SLPs
✨ Strengthen your decision-making for vocal health, technique challenges, and lesson planning
✨ Connect with a community of like-minded, evidence-based teachers
✨ Get early access to founding member rates and program details

Meet Your Workshop Leaders:
🎤 Lori Sonnenberg, MM, MA, CCC-SLP – Singer, Voice Teacher & Clinical Singing Voice Specialist
🎤 Natalie Sheppard, BM, MA, CCC-SLP – Singer, Voice Teacher & Clinical Singing Voice Specialist

With decades of combined experience bridging clinical voice care and advanced vocal pedagogy, Lori and Natalie will guide you toward smarter, safer, and more confident teaching.

📥 Send us a DM to secure your spot and see how the Collective can transform your teaching!

🎤 Is your voice giving out after voice use, after you've had a little break from singing or speaking?You might be experi...
12/03/2025

🎤 Is your voice giving out after voice use, after you've had a little break from singing or speaking?

You might be experiencing mucosal fatigue, swelling on the vibrating edge of your vocal folds caused by overuse or effortful phonation. It can sneak up on you, often showing symptoms later the same day or even the next morning.

Signs to watch for:
✅ Dull, swollen sensation
✅ More effort to speak or sing
✅ Delayed voice onset
✅ Voice cutting out or feeling unreliable
✅ Loss of high or soft notes

Recovery isn’t instant. Your vocal folds need extended rest, gentle exercises, and reduced demands to bounce back.

💡 Tip from a Voice SLP: Pay attention to these early signs and give your voice the care it deserves before fatigue becomes injury.

If you’re noticing these signs, we can help you recover safely and sustainably. Send us a message to schedule a voice consultation.

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Sonnenberg Voice! We are grateful for all of you.We hope your day is filled with ...
11/27/2025

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Sonnenberg Voice! We are grateful for all of you.

We hope your day is filled with laughter, love, and meaningful moments with the people who matter most.

Take some time to rest, enjoy your favorite foods, and give your voice a little break too, you deserve it!

The field of injury management and prevention has changed a lot in the last few decades. In sports medicine many injurie...
11/26/2025

The field of injury management and prevention has changed a lot in the last few decades. In sports medicine many injuries that would have been recommended “bed rest” or complete rest are now being recommended gentle movement regularly to help the healing process. This is especially important after busy vocal days.

Those same discoveries have helped the field of voice science grow as well. In most cases, complete vocal rest (no speaking, singing, or vocalizing of any kind) for days and weeks on end is rarely necessary or most beneficial.

Partial voice rest or vocal naps, on the other hand, is a necessary strategy for dealing with any kind of inflammation of the vocal folds. A light, gentle "cool-down" of low impact vocal exercises can actually mitigate swelling before you rest your voice!

If you are struggling with a vocal injury or voice loss talk with a voice healthcare professional (voice slp, or otolaryngologist) to create the best voice care plan for you.

Send us a DM to learn more!

🦃 The holidays can be challenging for many, but one aspect that doesn’t get enough attention is how voice disorders can ...
11/24/2025

🦃 The holidays can be challenging for many, but one aspect that doesn’t get enough attention is how voice disorders can impact this time of year.

It can feel isolating and frustrating when your voice isn’t cooperating, especially during loud family gatherings where communication is harder than usual.

A little extra thought and planning can make a big difference, helping a loved one with a voice disorder fully participate this Thanksgiving. Swipe for a few quick tips to get started.

For those who have experienced voice fatigue or disorders during the holidays, what strategies have worked for you? Share in the comments! 👇

💫 Celebrating 8 years of clinical excellence and growth at Sonnenberg Voice. What began as a small practice with just a ...
11/20/2025

💫 Celebrating 8 years of clinical excellence and growth at Sonnenberg Voice. What began as a small practice with just a few clients a week in November of 2017 has evolved into a premier center for professional voice therapy and singing voice rehabilitation, supported by an expanded, highly specialized team.

I am beyond grateful for each of you - every friend, family member, and colleague who has supported me and my vision for this practice.

We are proud to now hold licensure in Illinois, Ohio, and Utah, while offering singing rehab and vocal health services internationally. And grateful to our referral sources for helping us in our mission.

Most of all, we are grateful for the trust our clients place in us. Your voices are our purpose, and we are honored to be part of your journey. 💙

How has Sonnenberg Voice been part of your vocal journey? Drop a comment or send us a message - we'd love to hear from you and say thank you! 👇

Address

1431 Opus Place, Suite 110
Downers Grove, IL
60515

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 3pm
Thursday 12pm - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 3pm

Telephone

+16304421883

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