How to Avoid Vocal Damage

A couple of months ago, I had a fall when I was out on my daily walk. I tripped and fell straight down onto my chest onto the sidewalk. I managed to get up very slowly and walk the remaining 6 blocks home. The resulting injury was that the ligaments that are attached to the muscles, cartilages and rib bones got pulled, strained and torn. It only hurt when I breathed or moved. Lol.

I could take shallow breaths but not a rib expanding singer’s breath. Singing was not possible for several weeks. I was able to hum and do gentle warm ups of short phrases, but nothing with volume or long sustaining notes.

You never know what can take your voice down. I was thankful that I didn’t have any gigs lined up.  This was an unusual circumstance…not your typical vocal injury.  It hit me out of the blue. It wasn’t really a vocal injury, but it stopped me from singing.

So it got me to thinking about ways we can avoid vocal damage and what to do if we think we have damage. I hope that it is important to you to keep your voice functioning well. As singers, it is imperative to make it a priority.

This will not be a comprehensive solution for everything. Just an overview. In case you weren’t sure, I’m not a doctor.

Three signs you should see a doctor:

1. If you have two weeks of persistent hoarseness or voice change such as a loss of range.

2. Chronic vocal fatigue.

3. Throat pain or discomfort with voice use.

Your voice will let you know when all is not well. If it feels or sounds different from the way it’s always felt or sounded…pay attention
Signs of vocal problems:

·   Hoarseness or laryngitis that doesn’t go away.

·   Loss of range

·   Feeling like you have to clear your throat all the time.

·   A husky tone that developed over time or suddenly.

·   Getting vocally tired sooner than usual.

·   Feeling like you have a lump in your throat all the time.

·   Getting laryngitis often.

Not all of these things require a trip to the doctor. You can check into what might be causing it. Examples: Can you hear yourself at rehearsals? Are you eating late at night and getting acid reflux? Changing a behavior may clear up the problem.

Most issues can be resolved. Serious damage results in things like nodes, polyps and hemorrhages.

So what causes vocal Damage?

ABUSE: Smoking, vaping, not drinking enough water, screaming, yelling, coughing and frequent throat clearing. These activities can lead to vocal trauma. One wrong scream can do you in.

I work with a lot of teenagers and impressing them to not scream is almost impossible. I usually will not teach cheerleaders because they are usually chronically hoarse.

I have a lot of students that go to winter or summer camp with their church groups and almost always come back hoarse. The peer pressure to scream keeps them from holding back. It’s a little frustrating.

So screaming at football games, on a roller coaster, or yelling over a crowd in a restaurant are examples that can cause a stressful situation for your voice. If you have a vocal stressful situation, take vocal rest a day or two…silence would be best and drink plenty of liquids.

MISUSE: Examples would be speaking too high or too low in your natural range. I have a student that babysits early in the morning and she talks in a very high voice to the little kids. She found herself getting hoarse. I told her to warm up as though she was going to sing, and that helped.

When we try to speak too low because we want to sound “professional,” we have trouble projecting that and that can be wearing.

A word about vocal fry: Vocal fry is not unhealthy. We use it a lot in vocal therapy. Where we run into real trouble with vocal fry is, when we try to project with it. Then the false folds come in and we have constriction, and that can cause damage.

OVERUSE: Certain occupations use their voices a lot and get over -use. Occupations such as: podcast hosts, fitness instructors, teachers, people who work in a noisy environment, (restaurant, construction, warehouse) singers, actors, performers, salespeople, pastors, sports coaches, trial lawyers etc…Also high school theater students who have weeks of long rehearsals, and of course, cheerleaders.

Imagine if you have one of these vocally intense jobs and you want to sing as well, extra care must be taken.

Other causes of vocal problems: Allergies, sinus infections, medications, acid reflux, and neurological disorders.

So what is a singer to do? Here are some ways you can avoid and remedy the problems.

·   Practice overall health practices. Remember, what is good for your body is good for your voice.

·   Warm up and cool down

·   Adjust your environment.  Add humidity if necessary.  Use a mic if you teach.

·   Hydrate ½ oz of water per pound of body weight.

·   Consider your voice like a savings account. Spend wisely.

·   Use an effortful voice only when necessary.

·   Speak to people in close proximity.

·   Reduce talk time before and after long speaking or singing engagement.

·   Incorporate vocal rest into the day.

·   Try to avoid coughing and throat clearing.

 If you feel you need medical help for your voice, see an ENT or laryngologist. A speech language pathologist might be in order to help you with habits that might be causing problems. Don’t hesitate if you feel something isn’t right and isn’t going away.  

I hope these tips have helped. If I can help you with your singing journey in any way, connect with me by emailing from this website. 

Stay brilliant and sing on.