We often forget that one of our most important tools is our voice.
Most people have had difficulties with their voice at some time. Maybe you had a cold and “lost” your voice. Maybe you cheered too much for your team and had a hoarse voice for a few days after.
If you have to speak for long periods, in large spaces, in a noisy environment and to big groups, the effort may put pressure on your voice and cause strain. If the strain is too great voice problems may develop and make the voice less effective.
Breath is the power for your voice.
To prevent problem avoid:
- Excessive consumption of alcohol, caffeinated tea, coffee, fizzy drinks, orange juice. All of these drinks can dry out your throat
- Medicated lozenges that kill pain. Pain can be a good thing as it is your body’s way of telling you to stop. Instead suck non-medicated pastilles.
- Heavy/spicy meals last can cause indigestion and acid reflux. This will inflame the vocal folds
- Dairy products, which can cause over-production of mucous around vocal folds
- Talking above background noise or yelling in excitement, causes strain
- Talking in a whisper when your voice starts to go. When you whisper the folds are held in tension and the problem is made worse.
- Talking in a character voice or squeaky voice
- Smoking. Try to reduce or eliminate exposure to smoke or smokey environments.
Signs of a voice problem may include:
- Breaks in the voice (sudden stoppages)
- Unexpected changes of pitch (voice all over the place)
- Changes in vocal quality (hoarseness)
- Changes in the body (sore throat)
- Increased effort to talk (voice tires easily)
- Regular loss of voice
- Sensation of lump in the throat.
What can you do?
- Voice rest. Easier said than done. Try to have periods of complete vocal rest. Do something that you can do silently.
- Body rest. Relax, take steamy baths/ showers
- Steam inhalations to moisten the back of the throat and ease pain
- Gargle with boiled, then cooled salty water to reduce pain and fight infection
- Hydrate by drinking lots of water (1.5 litres/day)
- Early nights. It is important to get enough sleep
- Take time off to allow inflammation or swelling of the vocal folds to subside.
- Breathing Exercises
- Improve your posture when sitting and standing
Where to seek help for yourself
Talk to your GP if you are concerned that you have a persistent voice problem and would like further support. Your GP will be able to refer you to other services, including Adult Speech and Language Therapy services, if they feel it is necessary.
Speech and Language Therapy for Children and Young People
- Contact your local NHS Speech and Language Therapy service
- Contact an Independent Speech and Language Therapist, via ASLTIP website “help with talking”
By Sarah Winstanley
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Communication Lincs Ltd because Speech Therapy Matters