what every professional voice user should know about their voice

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Use your voice, don’t abuse your voice!

What every classroom teacher needs to know about the voice, voice disorders and

prevention: A Feature for Better Speech and Hearing Month #BSHM

Sarah Wu, MA CCC-SLP SpeechIsBeautiful.com @ 2015

Sarah Wu, MA CCC-SLP SpeechIsBeautiful.com

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Do you know anyone that makes a living off of their voice?

Um, that would be you guys!

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Anatomy of the voiceTypes of voice disordersPrevention & vocal hygieneQuestions

Our agenda for today

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Two small mucous membranes in your larynx

They cover the entrance to your trachea Vibrate together and sound like a kazoo Delicate yet powerful for

communication and important for breathing

Adults’ vocal folds are larger than children’s

Women’s vocal folds are smaller than men’s

Does size affect pitch? Can you change your fundamental

pitch?

Your vocal folds

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Any deviation in pitch, intensity, resonance or quality that renders a person's voice "abnormal" to the listener.

A voice disorder may be secondary to a number of underlying causes including overuse, neurologic disorders, trauma, surgery, cancer, viral and bacterial conditions and psychological difficulties.

What is a voice disorder?

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Adults: 3-9% of the population

Can children get voice disorders?

Children: 3-6% of population

How often do they occur?

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Hoarseness Vocal fatigue Breathy voice quality Change in pitch range of the voice Excessive coughing Excessive throat clearing Change in voice after a cold or flu

What are signs of a voice problem?

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excessive talking throat clearing excessive coughing inhaling irritants smoking screaming

Does drinking coffee or alcohol have an effect?

What is vocal abuse?

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Anyone who relies on their voice professionally including:

◦ Teachers◦ Lawyers◦ Clergy◦ Cheerleaders◦ Singers◦ Actors

Who is at risk of vocal abuse?

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1. Vocal nodules2. Vocal polyps3. Laryngitis4. Contact ulcers

What are some common voice disorders related to vocal abuse?

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Small, benign (non-cancerous), callous-like growths

The most common directly related to vocal abuse.

Often a frequent problem among professional singers. ◦ Can you think of a

celebrity who had vocal nodules?

Vocal nodules

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Vocal nodules They form at the area that receives the

most pressure when the folds come together to vibrate.

The nodules develop from damage caused by repeated pressure on the same area much like a callous forms on areas of a person's feet that are irritated by tight shoes.

The voice of a person who has vocal nodules usually sounds hoarse, low-pitched, and slightly breathy.

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A vocal polyp is similar to a vocal nodule but is softer, more like a blister than a callous.

It most often forms on only one vocal cord.

A vocal polyp is often associated with long-term cigarette smoking but may also be linked to hypothyroidism (decreased activity of the thyroid gland which is involved in the growth and development of children and energy control in adults), gastroesophageal reflux, or chronic vocal misuse.

People who develop a vocal polyp usually have a low-pitched, hoarse, breathy voice, similar to the voices of people who have vocal nodules

Vocal polyps

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Laryngitis is an inflammation or swelling of the vocal folds.

It may be caused by excessive use of the voice, by bacterial or viral infections, or by irritants such as inhaled chemicals or the backup of stomach acid into the throat (gastroesophageal reflux).

The voice of someone with laryngitis will often sound raspy, breathy, and hoarse.

Laryngitis

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Contact ulcers are a less common disorder of vocal abuse.

They are experienced by people who use too much force when bringing the vocal folds together for speech.

This excessive force causes ulcerated sores or a wearing away of tissue on or near the cartilages of the larynx that move to bring the vocal folds together.

These ulcers are also found in people who have gastroesophageal reflux.

People with this type of voice disorder often complain of their voice tiring easily and may feel pain in the throat, especially while talking.

Contact ulcers

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Vocal Registers◦ Glottal fry◦ Normal phonation◦ Falsetto◦ Whispering

Which puts the most strain on your voice?◦ Whispering

Varying your voice’s pitch

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Also known as “vocal hygiene”

1. Vocal abuse◦ Stop yelling, shouting, or screaming. Instead use a whistle or clap your hands.◦ Avoid lengthy conversations (at work, at home, or on the phone)◦ Don’t speak excessively; choose your words carefully!◦ In excessive background noise (such as in the hallways), minimize talking and if you must

talk, get close to that person and face them.

2. Hydration◦ Water lubricates your vocal folds, which increases their ability to perform to their highest

potential◦ Drink until your pee is pale◦ Avoid all drinks that contain caffeine (coffee, tea, soda) because caffeine leads to

dehydration.

3. Smoking◦ Don’t start smoking and if you are smoking, stop. ◦ Smoking irritates the vocal folds leading to chronic laryngitis, polyps, or cancer.◦ If you make your livelihood from using your voice, it’s not work the risk of smoking.

Prevention of voice disorders

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4. Use the proper vocal register◦ Don’t use glottal fry, falsetto or whispering.◦ Speak in your normal voice

5. Throat clearing◦ Why are you clearing your throat? Dehydration? Excessive mucus? Reflux?◦ Avoid throat clearing that causes the vocal folds to touch because it is

traumatic and leads to significant wear.◦ It is better to cough lightly once than clear your throat multiple times.

6. Vocal Rest◦ If possible give your voice plenty of time to recover from the near constant

use in the school environment.◦ Rest your voice for 10 minutes every 2-3 hours (during prep periods, after

school).◦ Make home time be “break time” for your voice.◦ Keep talking to a minimum if your voice hurts.


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7. Avoid dry or smoky environments◦ As a teacher it is best to avoid the bar on the weekend.◦ Even traveling to the southwest (dry, arid) could be a bad idea if

you suspect that you might have a voice disorder.◦ Airplanes are not vocal fold “friendly” (dry, stale air).

8. Limit or reduce antihistamine or decongestant use◦ These drugs have been shown to dry out the vocal tract.

9. Reflux◦ If you suspect you have reflux:◦ Drink until your pee is pale yellow – or clear!◦ Avoid all drinks that contain caffeine (coffee, tea, soda) because

caffeine leads to dehydration.


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Please note:◦ If you suspect someone of having a voice

problem, see your doctor, preferably an ENT (Ear-Nose-Throat Doctor).

◦ Request a full voice evaluation.◦ A speech-language pathologist can provide voice

therapy to an adult or a child only with a doctor’s (ENT) diagnosis, consent, or referral.

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Thanks for listening!Questions???

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what every professional voice user should know about their voice

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