On World Voice Day 2023 - April 16th - let us remember to take diligent care of our God given voice,  because YOUR VOICE MATTERS.

That's the new motto chosen by the Voice Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery

What are voice problems?

Voice problems usually include pain or discomfort when you speak or difficulty controlling the pitch, loudness, or quality of your voice. Hoarseness or Dysphonia means a change in the sound of a person’s voice.

 

What causes voice problems?

● The Most common cause is following a throat infection.

● Voice abuse such as screaming , shouting and prolonged faulty use is another common cause.

● Gastric ( Stomach ) acid reflux can also cause swelling of the voice box leading to hoarseness

● Problems with movement of the vocal cords due to nerve paralysis can present as hoarseness.

● Rarely tumors / cancer of the voice box.

Is your voice changing seriously?

Any change in voice lasting for more than 3 weeks needs to be evaluated.

 

Vocal Hygiene : Tips to help keep your voice healthy

• Drink plenty of water each day.

• Avoid spicy & oily food

• Warm up your voice. It is important to warm up your voice before you sing or talk for long periods of time. Do not start to sing in a full voice without a short warm up.

• Cool down your voice. After intense singing, it is important to cool down your vocal cord muscles before you start to talk normal again.

• Use a Microphone when speaking to a large audience. Over projection, such as shouting or yelling, can harm your voice and may cause damage to your vocal cords.

• Rest your voice.  This is very important if you are sick or have a cold.

• Stay away from caffeine. Do not drink more than 2 caffeinated products each day. Caffeine can cause your vocal cords to become dry and irritated.

• Stay away from alcohol. Regular use of alcohol can lead to a rough voice quality. Do not drink alcohol the night before or during a singing performance.

• Do not smoke It can cause permanent hoarseness and damage to your voice. Stay away from secondhand smoke.

• Do not strain your voice. When you talk or sing use a vocal pitch range and volume that is comfortable. A pitch and volume that is too high or too low can strain your voice.

• Do not whisper. Whispering can put too much air pressure on your vocal cords and cause damage.

• Do not cough or clear your throat, unless needed. When you cough and clear your throat, it can put more force on your vocal cords and delay the time it takes you to heal.

Link to AMH ENT Department