Claire Ligon

Claire Ligon is an Assistant Professor in the Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Richmond and her Master of Education in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Virginia. She completed her clinical training at the Head & Neck Group in New York City, where she worked with professional performers experiencing voice disorders. She has more than 15 years of clinical experience evaluating and treating voice and swallowing disorders in the outpatient setting primarily. She has extensive experience as well in acute care, and long-term acute care settings.

Claire specializes in the evaluation and treatment of complex voice and swallowing disorders, with particular expertise in working with singers and patients with pain and fatigue. Her work integrates principles of voice science, vocology, exercise physiology, motor learning, and pain science to optimize communication and swallowing outcomes.

As both a clinician and trained singer, Claire brings a unique perspective to the care of professional voice users and individuals with voice and swallowing disorders. She is a 2016-trained Vocologist through the National Center for Voice and Speech, with advanced study in acoustics, aerodynamics, rehabilitation, and habilitation of the professional speaking and singing voice. She has trained in multiple singing voice pedagogies, including Estill Voice Training and Somatic Voicework™ (The Lovetri Method), and has studied musical theater, contemporary commercial music (CCM), jazz, and classical voice under many esteemed teachers and mentors.

Patients and colleagues frequently seek her expertise in the care of the professional voice, chronic throat symptoms, and Head & Neck swallowing disorders. She is particularly passionate about helping individuals return to meaningful communication, eating, performing, and participation in the activities that matter most to them.

Claire has been invited to present nationally on pain science, the singing voice, and swallowing disorders. She regularly mentors, conducts workshops, supervises trainees, and has begun her work in research.

Her clinical interests include post-operative rehabilitation, gender-affirming voice care, muscle tension dysphonia, aphonia, singing voice rehabilitation, and swallowing disorders. She is also involved in clinical trial research.

Her clinical philosophy emphasizes patient-centered care, advancing evidence-based practice, education, and interdisciplinary collaboration with PT.

Outside of work, Claire enjoys gardening, painting, and singing with friends and family. To learn more about her work, follow her on Instagram at @LigonVoiceSLP