By Kelly Frances
Losing your voice can wreak havoc on both your work and social life, and for some, a common cold is all it takes to turn their voice into a raspy whisper.
For those who use their voice for a living, the loss can be brought on by lesions, polyps or other damage to the vocal cords. In addition to genetic predisposition, dietary habits and cultural factors can affect vocal longevity.
Fortunately, there are ways to protect and preserve the voice for a lifetime. Voice therapist and Camerata Music Company founder Ryan Goessl shares tips on maintaining vocal health.
“Depending on how the voice is used, 95 percent of people will experience voice loss at some point,” Goessl said. “While colds and infection can worsen any vocal condition, those who speak in a healthy manner aren’t likely to lose their voice due to a cold.
Unfortunately, most people speak in an unhealthy manner.”
In Goessl’s experience, Korean women in particular suffer from premature voice loss due to cultural reasons.
“Korean women often experience significant voice decline in their 50s-which is early compared to the norm in other cultures. The Korean language contains a lot of glottals (the sound of the cords closing that produces a sharp, popping sound), which puts extreme pressure on the voice. Add norebang (karaoke) to the equation and the prevalence of a highly acidic diet, and it’s not surprising that the voice suffers," he said.
Other factors such as smoking, caffeine and alcohol consumption play a role in vocal health, but many people are unaware that the muscles they use to speak may be causing harm.
“Healthy speech involves the muscles of the trunk supporting the voice, and the use of proper breathing technique,” said Goessl. “When we breathe correctly, the chest should not rise. Rather, the midsection expands, supported by the abdominal muscles. The jaw and neck should never tense, as this can cause problems such as temporal mandibular disorder, and tension headaches."
In the event that voice loss occurs, Goessl emphasizes the need for rest.
“Once voice strain occurs, one should never force speech or whisper. Contrary to popular belief, whispering is more stressful to the vocal cords than speaking in a regular voice. The best thing to do is to stop talking,” he said.
Other practical aids include water, humidifiers, nasal irrigation pots, and saline based sprays. Acidic foods are best avoided when the throat is irritated, as are dairy foods.
“Milk coats the throat and increases phlegm. Natural apple juice is excellent as it has the same pH level as saliva,” he said.
According to experts, your favorite throat candies may not hurt you, but they aren’t going to have any real healing effect either. Goessl notes that they could do more harm than good.
“Lozenges act as a psychological crutch, and in some cases, could encourage further damaging use of the voice because they mask pain,” he said.
With regular consumption of water, appropriate rest and technique, we can expect to sing and speak for a long, long time. To learn more about vocal therapy, visit https://www.ryangoessl.com/
The writer is a guest columnist from Ontario, Canada, and is currently living in Seoul. She welcomes topic suggestions from readers, and she can be reached at kellyfrancesm@gmail.com