Vocal Hygiene Helpful Tips

Vocal Hygiene Recommendations HELPFUL HINTS FOR A HEALTHY VOICE Increase fluid intake 4-8 ounces of water per day. Avoid excessive or frequent throat clearing-try sipping water instead. Frequent throat-clearing or coughing can be injurious to the vocal cords. Excessive cough, mucus production, or throat clearing may be an indication of an underlying disorder such as Laryngopharyngeal Reflux. Get plenty of sleep. Fatigue can cause the voice to sound hoarse. Use plenty of breath support. Your lungs are the generator of the voice. Take advantage of them. Do not speak in sentences that are too long. This causes you to vocalize with inadequate breath support at the end of your air stream. Shorter sentences with a deep breath in between optomizes breath support. Minimize caffeine, alcolhol and dairy intake. These can dry out the vocal cords and/or create thick mucous. Avoid menthol throat lozenges. These can dry the throat. Avoid smoking, people who smoke, and noxious fumes. These are irritating and damaging to the vocal cords. Be aware of background noise. Raising your voice above others in a loud environment can cause straining and vocal abuse. Watch volumes and posture of head/neck while on the telephone. This can cause uneven pressure and strain on the vocal cords. If it seems speaking takes extra effort, you have throat discomfort or pain after using your voice, experience vocal fatigue or experience "cracking" of the voice, … consult with your laryngologist.