15 Ways to Prevent Voice Problems
An estimated 17.9 million adults in the U.S. report having had a problem with their voice within the past 12 months. Many people use their voices professionally.
Singers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, nurses, salespeople, consultants, public speakers, and athletes are among the few who use their voices extensively.
It is also known that people on the phone or video calls (Zoom meetings) talk more than four times as loud as they do during in-person conversations. This puts people who teleconference at risk of developing voice problems.
Sometimes voice problems can be avoided simply by taking care of your voice.
How to Take Care of Your Voice
Vocal hygiene is a term used to describe good habits that you can use to support a healthy and strong voice throughout your life. Just as brushing your teeth daily can help protect your teeth as you age, vocal hygiene can help you preserve the quality of your voice as you age. Hydration is of utmost importance.
Maintain good hydration. Drink 6-8 cups of water per day and minimize caffeine intake.
Take frequent voice breaks. Your voice needs 15 minutes of rest for every hour it is used.
No screaming or shouting.
Do not talk over background noise like the TV/radio. Instead, turn it off and then speak.
Do not yell from one room to another.
Eat well and sleep well.
Make sure you have regular “downtime”.
Avoid exposure to smoke, environmental allergens, and dust.
Talk with normal loudness, like you are telling someone something in confidence.
Use a slow speaking pace.
Instead of cheering, yelling, screaming, or shouting, use whistles, horns, clapping, jump up and down to show excitement, or touch someone’s arm to get their attention.
Avoid clearing your throat or coughing. Take a dry swallow or a sip of water instead.
When you have a sore throat, take cold medication or cough syrup as per the doctor’s advice, drink plenty of liquids, and get lots of rest.
Try to avoid whispering whenever possible. Instead, talk using a very soft and quiet voice.
Don’t talk when you are overtired. Go to bed instead!
If you have any questions or if you would like to learn more about how to restore your normal vocal quality, contact us!
About the Author
Allison Geller is a communication coach, speech-language pathologist, and founder of Connected Speech Pathology, an international online practice providing professional communication coaching and speech therapy for children, teens, and adults. With more than two decades of experience, she has worked in medical and educational settings, published research on aphasia, and leads a team of specialists helping clients improve skills in public speaking, vocal presence, accent clarity, articulation, language, fluency, and interpersonal communication.
