Professional voice users are those individuals whose professional role and employment are dependent on the effective and efficient use of voice.
Voice disorders may have more devastating effects on individual who have greater dependence on their voice for their employment. Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) play a major role in the management of professional voice users in a voice care team.
What is vocal Hygiene?
- It is the set of practices associated with preserving a healthy voice.
- It emphasizes the importance of voice care concerning appropriate voice behaviors, lifestyle and diets.
- It is an effective method to reduce vocal abuse and prevent voice problems.
Avoid certain food items that can harm voice in the long run
- Cocoa and dairy products: it increases mucous secretions. It causes discomfort in the throat
Spicy foods and beverages
- Highly spicy food, coffee and other beverages containing caffeine also cause throat irritation and lead to frequent throat clearing.
- Instead, water, citrus juice, and herbal tea are advised for the beneficial effect of the voice.
- Water is a good substitute, and drink 6-8 glasses of water a day
Alcohol:
- A history of alcohol abuse is detrimental to the vocal apparatus as it causes dryness and irritation to the throat.
Drugs:
- Some professional voice users frequently require antihistamines to help control post-natal drip or other symptoms. The drying effect of antihistamines may result in decreased vocal cord lubrication, increased throat clearing, and irritability leading to frequent coughing and voice problems.
How to establish good vocal hygiene?
Avoid throat clearing: It is traumatic to the vocal cords and should be eliminated, instead, other alternatives are helpful like:
- Dry swallow: The mucus on the vocal cords gets cleared during swallowing. It also relaxes and gives a soothing effect to the larynx.
- Silent cough: During silent cough, the strong air blows mucus off from the vocal cords, if any, it can be achieved by pushing air through the vocal cords as you produce a ‘ha’ sound.
- Small sip of water and swallow slowly.
Avoid whispering: whispering strains the vocal cords and should be avoided.
Avoid grunting/noisy vocalization: speaking while lifting heavy objects or exercising should be avoided as it harms the larynx.
Avoid screaming, shouting, or yelling: These behaviors make the edges of the vocal cords rough, instead, use gestures or actions and noise makers to gain attention.
Inadequate rest/ sleep pattern: It harm good voice
Noisy environment: Avoid speaking in noisy situations. Face the listener while speaking, over-articulate, or do exaggerated movements of articulators instead of increasing the loudness.
Environmental dryness: Environmental factors such as humidity, heat, and extreme temperature can dry the vocal folds. Instead, use a humidifier if possible or minimize the amount of talking in such places.
Stress management strategies
The following tips may help to reduce/overcome tension/stress:
- Practice deep breathing
- Be happy and cheerful
- Practice relaxation techniques
- Learn proper time management
- Get the required amount of sleep
- Practice simple physical exercises
- Eat healthy food
Helpful hints for a healthy voice
- Drink a minimum 6-8 glasses of water per day.
- Uses yawning to relax your throat.
- Use non vocal sounds to attract the attention of listeners.
- Use an amplification device to address a large audience.
- Speak slowly, often pause at natural phrase boundaries so you can breathe naturally.
- Know your vocal limits for pitch and loudness and try to be within your limits.
- Keep water handy while singing and lecturing.
- Maintain 10 to 15 minutes of silence after continuous prolonged talking.
- Take adequate physical rest, as well as voice rest.
- For public speaking, practice the material well in advance. It helps in good pronunciation as well as good delivery of the material.
- Avoid speaking and singing beyond natural breathe cycle or comfortable range
If you find any changes in your voice, don’t ignore it. Consult an ENT doctor or Speech-language pathologist or speech/voice therapist immediately. Don’t ignore prolonged symptoms of throat pain, irritation/fullness, heartburn, vocal strain, voice change, hoarseness, etc.