Do You Have a Healthy Voice?

A healthy voice should be clear, distinct, full, and dependable. There are many types of voice disorders. The majority of them are a result of vocal misuse or abuse. Vocal abuse or bad voice habits that can affect the health of your voice are:

• shouting and yelling
• clearing your throat
• coughing
• use of force when speaking
• carrying tension or stress in your neck muscles
• singing/speaking with inappropriate vocal technique

Ask yourself the following:

• Do you have any of the bad voice habits listed above?
• Is your voice frequently hoarse?
• Is your voice weak?
• Do you have trouble making your voice louder?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, your vocal health may be at risk.

Does your voice represent you well? Your voice should reflect your personality. Have you ever talked to a person on the phone and developed a mental image of him or her based on the voice? Have you ever met a large man with a high-pitched voice that didn't seem to "fit"? Your voice affects the way others perceive you.

Are you a professional voice user? If you use your voice as a teacher, a salesperson, or in any capacity on the job, you are a professional voice user. Professional voice users and persons with voices that don't fit their personalities are often people who need vocal enhancement or treatment for vocal misuse.

Ask yourself the following:

• Is your voice professionally dependable?
• Does your voice "fit" your personality?
• Is your voice clear and full?

If you answered "no" to any of these questions, you may need advice about your voice. The first step is to consult your doctor to determine if there are any physical conditions. Then, let Community Therapy Services help you make a positive change in your vocal habits.