Today many people suffer from vocal abuse and they are not sick. If you are experiencing chronic hoarseness, persistent sore throats or even loss of voice by the end of the day, you should seriously look into what is causing this problem and learn how to correct it. Vocal abuse will not go away on its own.
If you have been to an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist and have been given a clean bill of health, then you need to rectify the problem. If you ignore the discomfort or the pain, chances are good that it will only get worse.
Unless there is a medical problem or you are taking certain prescriptive antihistamines, vocal abuse is often caused by misuse or misplacement of the voice. Basically, what is happening is that the vocal folds (cords) and throat are being overused because of excessive shouting or excessive strain on those delicate organs. Even constant talking over a prolonged period of time in a normal volume level can produce these symptoms.
When you learn how to place your voice properly, however, you will notice an immediate improvement in this respect. The throat and voice box cavities are only 2 of 5 resonators that are responsible for the production of voiced sound.
If you learn how to use your chest cavity to power your sound, the largest and most important resonator for voiced sound, you will not only alleviate the hoarseness or soreness but you will also discover a richer, warmer, more resonant speaking voice. The pitch of your voice (highness or lowness of sound – not the volume which is loudness or softness) will probably drop to some degree and you will be able to increase your volume without shouting.
When I worked with Ulf Samuelsson, former NHL hockey player, he was losing his voice every week after coaching his son’s hockey team. When he discovered how to increase his volume without shouting, he remarked that he wished he had known how to project his voice all the years he was playing professionally. Ice rinks are loud environments and to be heard in speaking, you must increase your volume. If you do it poorly, you will notice hoarseness or pain in your throat.
What is important to realize about your speaking voice is that chronic hoarseness or even loss of voice will never go away on its own if you continue with the same vocal practices that have brought about your discomfort or your lack of voice. Only when you change your voice placement will the vocal abuse go away.
How much value do you place on your speaking voice? Don’t ignore vocal abuse because it can lead to permanent damage. Learn to place your voice properly and discover a voice that has lasting power without any pain, any discomfort, or any loss of sound.
