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Do you take self-care…especially of your voice? I hope so.
Your voice is a muscle meant to last you a lifetime. Most of us know someone who misused or abused his or her voice and as a result the voice is no longer in use or certainly not what it used to be. Don’t let this happen to you. Anyone who uses his or her voice regularly (e.g., singer, salesperson, teacher, public speaker) must take excellent care of the voice and not put the voice at any unnecessary risk.
Here are ten questions to consider asking yourself:
- Has your voice become hoarse or raspy sounding?
- Does your voice suddenly sound deeper than normal?
- Do you frequently clear your throat?
- Is it work or an effort to use your voice?
- Does your throat feel achy or scratchy to you?
- Do you speak for extended periods of time without taking necessary vocal rest?
- Are you hydrating regularly and hydrating enough?
- Do you make use of a humidifier in your home or office, especially in drier climates?
- Do you exercise regularly?
- Do you suffer from GERD or heartburn?
- BONUS: Do you use amplification when available?
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list and you may find other behaviors more typical of your particular lifestyle. If you can relate to any of these ten questions or if you have other concerns about regularly using your voice, it behooves you to think about seeing an ENT (ear/nose/throat) specialist and ultimately pursuing voice therapy with a Speech-Language Pathologist, if appropriate.
It is my recommendation that you pay close attention to your vocal musculature so it does last you a lifetime (vocal hygiene). Many of us take our voices for granted however incorporating some simple changes can be quite effective.
So what are you waiting for? If you wish, you can start with this list of questions and possibly ask others for their feedback. It can be a real eye-opener.
If you’d like to discuss this with me further please call 518-664-6004 or email me ([email protected]) It would be my pleasure to assist you or someone whom you know.