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VOCAL HEALTH SUGGESTIONS

Tips to Keep You Talking!

Tips to Keep You Talking!

1. Maintain Proper Hydration

The vocal tract functions better and longer when it is well hydrated. The vocal mechanism can stand a lot of abuse and misuse when it is adequately lubricated. Seven to nine 8 oz. glasses of water per day will usually suffice. Avoiding drying agents like caffeine, antihistamines, and dry environments will better enable a person to maintain proper hydration.

2. Avoid Abuse, Misuse or Overuse of the Voice

Most vocal problems are the direct result of using the voice in stressful or strange ways, overusing the voice over too long a period of time, or using the voice habitually at a loud dynamic level. Habitually speaking with either too low or too high a voice pitch, continual clearing of the throat, or a lot of heavy coughing are other common causes of vocal disorders. Voice rest for a few days at a time, voice therapy, at times taking corticosteroids or antibiotics, and as a last resort, vocal surgery, are some of the most common corrective procedures.

3. When Hoarseness or a Breathy Sound is Evident, Immediately Cease Voice Use

These are the primary symptoms that tell you that something is wrong. If these symptoms continue for 10 days or more, even after resting the voice, an otolaryngologist or speech therapist/pathologist should be consulted.

4. Gastrointestinal Reflux Should be Treated at the First Signs

Approximately 80% of all people have reflux. This can result in inflammation of the entire vocal tract. Symptoms include morning hoarseness, halitosis, a bad taste in the mouth, and even laryngitis. Potential cures include raising of the head of your bed, avoidance of food at least three hours prior to going to bed, taking acid reducers and antacids. With extreme and continuous cases that do not respond to the above, a physician must be consulted.

5. Avoid Exposure to Viral and Bacterial Infections

Contrary to popular belief, infectious germs are not as likely to be transmitted through the air, as they are by contact of the human hand with the germs and then hand contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth. These disorders can best be avoided by keeping away from infected people and by frequent hand washing. Remember that only bacterial infections should be treated with antibiotics and a culture is needed to determine if an infection is bacterial or viral. Plenty of rest, good hydration, and medications intended to fight symptoms are the most frequent treatments.

6. Avoid Adverse Environments

The ideal environment for the professional voice user is clean, warm, moist air. 30-40% humidity in the air is best; however, most homes and buildings are overheated or overcooled, which tends to dry out the air. Humidifiers and vaporizers can help. Also, developing the habit of nose breathing (except when singing) is beneficial because the nose warms, filters, and moistens the air that we breathe. One should especially avoid breathing air with car exhaust or paint fumes.

7. Maintain Good Balanced Nutrition

Vitamin deficiencies have a profound negative effect on the mucous membranes of the vocal tract. While vitamin C is an important part of a balanced diet, mega doses should be avoided due to a heavy drying effect and the fact that too much vitamin C makes the body reject other needed nutrients. Prior to important vocal use, starches should be avoided because of a drying effect. In general, one should consume more liquids than solids.

8. Smoking is Extremely Harmful to the Vocal Mechanism

In addition to all of the well-documented negative effects of smoking on general health, smoking seriously inflames the mucous membranes of the entire vocal tract which can result in severe trauma. Smoking is also the leading cause of laryngeal cancer. Cigarettes are bad enough, but Marijuana is even worse in its negative effects on the voice.

9. Avoid the Use of Alcohol and All Other Diuretics

Alcohol and all other diuretics can have a serious drying effect on the voice. Alcohol can also have a virilizing effect (a permanent lowering of the voice), make the body lose its delicate heat balance making one more susceptible to disease, and can lead to abusive vocal behaviors.

10. Give Serious Consideration to Possible Negative Effects That Hormone Imbalances Can Have on the Voice

The negative effects on the voice of a thyroid imbalance and the hormonal imbalances that are experienced during menopause are well documented. When these imbalances are corrected, there is often dramatic improvement in the voice. Anabolic steroids should be avoided at all cost because of the permanent virilizing effect they can have on the voice. Females should reduce voice use immediately preceding and during menstruation if hoarseness or a limiting of range is noted.