Maintaining Vocal Health

  • If possible, optimize the environment where your voice is used.
      • Increase or decrease use of absorbent materials to modify acoustics of environment.
      • Control or reduce levels of ambient noise in and around area.
      • Optimize layout of area to support voice use (e.g., eliminate barriers).
      • Maintain adequate ventilation and humidity in area.
  • Warm up voice before use by performing vocal function exercises below.
      • Hold /ee/ softly at F above middle C for females and F below middle C for males (or at a comfortable mid-range speaking pitch if no piano is available) for as long as possible. Repeat 2 times.
      • Glide from a comfortable low note to a comfortable high note on the word /knoll/. Repeat 2 times.
      • Glide from a comfortable high note to a comfortable low note on the word /knoll/. Repeat 2 times.
      • Sing up to a five-note scale (C-D-E-F-G) on the syllable /oll/ in your mid-range. Repeat 2 times.
  • Maintain good speaking and good singing posture.
      • Do not slouch or bend over when speaking or singing.
      • Crouch, sit or stand erect when engaged in voice use.
  • Maintain good breath support when speaking.
  • Optimize voice production strategies.
      • Use easy onset of voicing.
      • Do not talk or sing above high ambient noise levels for extended periods of time.
      • Avoid episodes of vocal projection (i.e., shouting, screaming) by using nonverbal cues.
      • Implement short periods of voice rest (vocal naps) after extended episodes of voice use.
      • Use amplification where and when necessary.
      • Cease smoking.
      • Avoid excessive coughing or throat clearing.
      • Use breathing filter in presence of known allergens or irritants.
  • Maintain adequate laryngeal hydration.
      • Consume one-half of your body weight in ounces of water daily.
      • Consume warm, non-caffeinated liquids during extended periods of voice use.
      • Use non-menthol or non-eucalyptus lozenges especially if liquid intake is difficult.
      • Limit alcohol intake.
  • Watch your diet.
      • Avoid spicy, acidic and dairy foods if you are sensitive to them.
      • Reduce or eliminate caffeine intake, avoid mint.
      • If diagnosed with laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD), follow treatment regimen as directed by your physician.
          • Take medications as prescribed by physician.
          • Modify diet to eliminate foods in categories listed above.
          • Modify sleeping posture by elevating the head of the bed to help keep your head above the level of the stomach
          • Eliminate alcohol intake.
          • Nothing to eat or drink within 3 hours of going to bed.
  • Maintain physical fitness.
  • Obtain adequate rest each night.

If Your Voice Is Complaining To You:

  • Decrease levels of voice use.
      • Use amplification for vocal projection.
      • Increase periods of voice rest (vocal naps) throughout the day if possible.
  • Modify environment where voice is used.
      • Increase or decrease use of absorbent materials.
      • Control or reduce noise levels in area.
      • Optimize layout of area to support voice (e.g., eliminate barriers).
      • Increase ventilation or humidification of area.
  • Modify use of speaking or singing voice.
      • Absolutely no screaming or shouting.
      • Warm up gently before voice use.
      • Use easy onset of voicing.
      • Avoid vocal projection.
      • Use soft, breathy vocal quality during speaking.
      • Maintain use of good breath support during speaking or singing.
      • Use only mid-range during singing.
      • Do not sing above mezzo-piano loudness level.
      • Limit telephone use, or use a phone amplifier if necessary.
      • Cover nose and mouth with a scarf during cold weather.
      • Avoid known allergens and irritants or wear breathing filter when in the presence of either.
      • No coughing or throat clearing.
  • Increase laryngeal hydration.
      • Consume warm, non-caffeinated liquids during voice use.
      • Use non-menthol or non-eucalyptus lozenges especially if liquid intake is difficult.
      • Use a warm steam vaporizer at night.
      • Eliminate alcohol and caffeine intake.
      • Consume one-half of your body weight in ounces of water daily.
  • Stop smoking. 

Consult a physician if your voice problem does not resolve itself.

Make an Appointment

  Schedule an appointment by calling us at (734) 936-8051.