There are many different reasons why your voice may sound hoarse or abnormal from time to time, and some of these reasons are things that you can not really control. An example would be catching a common cold virus that causes laryngitis. Sure, you can wash your hands frequently and try to avoid people with colds, but virtually everyone catches a cold with a bit of laryngitis now and again. What you probably did not know is that there are steps you can take to prevent many voice problems. The following steps are helpful for anyone who wants to keep their voice healthy, but are particularly important for people who have an occupation, such as teaching, that is heavily voice-related.
Key Steps for Keeping Your Voice Healthy
- Drink plenty of water. Moisture is good for your voice. Hydration helps to keep thin secretions flowing to lubricate your vocal cords. Drink plenty (up to eight 8-ounce glasses is a good minimum target) of non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages throughout the day.
- Try not to scream or yell. These are abusive practices for your voice, and put great strain on the lining of your vocal cords.
- Warm up your voice before heavy use. Most people know that singers warm up their voices before a performance, yet many don’t realize the need to warm up the speaking voice before heavy use, such as teaching a class, preaching, or giving a speech. Warm-ups can be simple, such as gently gliding from low to high tones on different vowel sounds, doing lip trills (like the motorboat sound that kids make), or tongue trills.
- Don’t smoke. In addition to being a potent risk factor for laryngeal (voice box) cancer, smoking also causes inflammation and polyps of the vocal cords that can make the voice very husky, hoarse, and weak.
- Use good breath support. Breath flow is the power for voice. Take time to fill your lungs before starting to talk, and don’t wait until you are almost out of air before taking another breath to power your voice.
- Use a microphone. When giving a speech or presentation, consider using a microphone to lessen the strain on your voice.
- Listen to your voice. When your voice is complaining to you, listen to it. Know that you need to modify and decrease your voice use if you become hoarse in order to allow your vocal cords to recover. Pushing your voice when it’s already hoarse can lead to significant problems. If your voice is hoarse frequently, or for an extended period of time, you should be evaluated by an Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose, and Throat physician.)
Frequently Asked Questions
A hoarse or abnormal voice can be caused by various factors, including viral infections like the common cold that lead to laryngitis. Other causes include voice strain from yelling, smoking, or overuse without proper care. Some factors are unavoidable, but many can be managed or prevented through proper voice care.
To maintain a healthy voice, drink plenty of water to keep your vocal cords lubricated, avoid yelling or screaming, warm up your voice before heavy use, and use good breath support. Avoid smoking and consider using a microphone when speaking for long periods to reduce strain.
Hydration helps keep the secretions on the vocal cords thin and flowing, which lubricates and protects them during use. Drinking adequate amounts of non-caffeinated and non-alcoholic beverages can prevent dryness and reduce the risk of voice problems.
Effective vocal warm-ups include gently gliding from low to high tones on different vowels, performing lip trills (similar to motorboat sounds), and tongue trills. Warming up helps prepare the vocal cords for heavy use such as teaching, public speaking, or singing.
Smoking is harmful to vocal health because it causes inflammation and vocal cord polyps, which can lead to a husky, hoarse, and weak voice. It also significantly increases the risk of laryngeal cancer, making it a major factor in long-term voice damage.
If your voice is frequently hoarse or hoarse for an extended period, you should reduce voice use to allow recovery and seek evaluation from an Otolaryngologist (ENT specialist). Persistent hoarseness can indicate underlying vocal cord problems that need professional diagnosis and treatment.
Good breath support provides the power needed for voice projection and quality. Filling your lungs fully before speaking and maintaining steady airflow prevents unnecessary strain on the vocal cords, helping to keep your voice strong and healthy.
Using a microphone during speeches or presentations reduces the need to speak loudly and strain your vocal cords. This helps minimize wear and tear on the voice, especially during prolonged or frequent voice use situations, preserving vocal health.
