If you're using your voice for professional reasons, you need to be aware of the factors that affect your vocal performances.
1) Do you smoke?
2) Do you drink a lot of alcohol?
3) Do you tend to argue a lot?
4) Do you tend to cough a lot?
5) Do you tend to clear your throat often?
6) Do you have an outgoing personality?
7) Do you spend a lot of time talking on the phone?
8) Do you laugh out loud a lot?
9) Do you whisper when you feel you have lost your voice?
10) Do you live in a loud home?
11) Do you yell from one part of the house to the other?
12) Do you try to talk when there's noise at the background? T.V? Radio?
13) Do you call your child or your pet from a distance?
14) Do you yell during sport events?
15) Does your job demand prolonged time you have to use your voice?
16) Do you tend to talk on the speakerphone while driving?
17) Do you sing with a band or in choir as a hobby on a permanent basis?
18) Do you tend to spend a considerable amount of time in a smoky or dusty surrounding?
19) Do you talk a lot in social settings?
If the answer to one or more of the questions is “yes,” you are at high risk of developing vocal disorders. To prevent damage and improve your vocal quality – and quality of life – you should significantly decrease, and if possible avoid, these harmful behaviors.
Vocal disorders begin with hoarseness, discomfort in the throat, pain, effort or difficulty speaking after extended vocal use. The negative behaviors can cause pathological damage to your vocal cords, such as: nodes (warts) on your vocal cords, polyps and cysts, among others. These in turn, will harm the quality of your vocal cords and force you to adopt even more harmful vocal behavior.
Hoarseness is a common disorder usually caused by bad vocal use, nutrition and other factors. However, it sometimes is related to throat pathology. Everyone who suffers from vocal disorders should consult an ear, nose and throat doctor and a clinical communication psychologist to receive guidance on vocal hygiene and vocal treatment, if needed
Some helpful hints:
§ Don't try to overcome distance by using your voice; don't talk between rooms or between floors at home at work.
§ Don't try to speak in a noisy environment. Wait for quiet or find someplace quiet to speak.
§ Avoid shouting and speaking intensely.
§ Avoid clearing your throat. Try sipping water or swallowing strongly instead.
§ Avoid whispering. If your throat is sore, speak softly and without strength.
§ Sip drinks often throughout the day, especially when speaking continuously.
§ Do not consume drinks that contain caffeine like: cola, tea, coffee and chocolate milk.
§ Speak less on your cell phone when the reception is bad and when there is a lot of noise around you, like in the street or while driving the car.
§ Reduce or even avoid using you voice altogether when your throat is sore, red, infected or sensitive.
§ Sing less, or refrain from singing altogether, when you're hoarse.
§ Avoid talking while exercising, running, speed walking and in the gym.
§ Use a cold vaporizer to keep your upper airwaves moist.
§ Do not eat heavy and greasy food before bedtime.
§ Finish eating at least four hours before going to sleep.
This Health Tip courtesy of Ms. Sari Lotem, M.A. clinical communication psychologist, an expert in diagnosing and treating vocal problems.
For more information contact the Institute of the Audiology, Language, Speech and Hearing Disorders, at: 02-6778656