Voice care
A person is easily identifiable by their voice, it is a unique marker of their humanity.
A considerable amount of information about the speaker is conveyed to the listener through their voice.
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Yet, human beings rarely think about looking after their voice. Human emotions such as happiness, love, sadness, disappointment and anger are reflected in our voice.
The human voice is an incredible tool used by human beings to communicate with one another.
The human voice is produced by the vocal folds, which are situated in the voice box (larynx). The vocal folds are two bands of smooth tissue that are opposite each other in the larynx (situated between the base of the tongue and the entrance to the windpipe).
The vocal folds part open to allow air into and out of the lungs via the trachea for breathing.
The vocal folds close and vibrate when we speak and produce sound waves that travel through the throat, nose and mouth to be articulated for speech.
These structures act as resonating cavities for the sound produced.
The muscles controlling the vocal folds change whether we make a high or low pitched sound and the shape of the folds during voicing plus the resonating cavities determine the quality of your voice.
This means that if you have a cold, your voice will sound different owing to inflammation in the voice box and throat/nose.
Certain jobs make great demand on the human voice. These include teachers, lawyers, trotro mates and preachers/pastors/evangelists.
These people are at a risk of developing voice problems. Some of these problems can be avoided if a person takes good care of their voice.
To keep our voice functioning at its best, it is important to know how to care for it.
Signs
Signs of voice disorders include hoarse voice, losing your voice intermittently, finding it a strain to talk, feeling the need to clear one’s throat, change in the usual sound of the voice, and painful throat.
Tips
• Stay well hydrated – drink plenty of water throughout the day to help keep the vocal folds healthy. Ideally, two to three litres (four to six sachets) of water a day is recommended.
• Be aware of your intake of tea, coffee and soft drinks like coke, which contain caffeine, as well as alcohol, as these cause dehydration. Balance it with drinking sufficient water.
• Avoid spending too much time in dusty and smoky environment which will irritate and dry the throat
• Avoid smoking as it irritates the vocal folds and is a known cause of cancer of the larynx
• Habits such as shouting, screaming and whispering are to be avoided as they can cause damage to your vocal cords. Avoid shouting repeatedly when watching a football or straining your voice to talk to others in a noisy environment.
• Consider using microphones when appropriate, for example addressing a large crowd.
• Avoid repeatedly clearing your throat as that can damage your voice; instead sip water
• Limit the amount of alcohol consumed as excessive drinking can adversely affect your vocal cords.
• Manage reflux- see your pharmacist or doctor for suitable medication and advice if you suffer from reflux. This also irritates the vocal folds and throat, especially at night
• Work on managing stress better. Stress can affect the quality of your voice if not managed well.
If you are concerned about your voice, see an ENT specialist (Ear, Nose & Throat) who will examine your throat and advice.
You may be referred to a speech and language therapist who is experienced in treating voice disorders.
The writer is Speech & Language Therapist/Clinical Tutor, University of Ghana. E-mail: [email protected]