Voice is the most important means of making communication between people audible. We can convey happiness, anger, surprise, fear and many other emotions with our voice. We have all experienced a problem with our voice at some point in our lives; having an upper respiratory tract infection, cheering loudly for our favorite team or being exposed to an irritant and many other factors can cause voice disorders. The first thing we should do when we have a voice problem is to be examined by an ear-nose-throat physician.
How is sound produced?
The structure popularly called "Adam's apple" is the front part of the larynx. The vocal folds extend backwards from the Adam's apple. When we exhale, air flows from our lungs to the larynx. This air passes between our vocal folds. If we close our vocal folds during this flow, vibration occurs and sound is produced.
What is a normal voice?
Normal voice is a voice whose voice quality, pitch and intensity are similar to those of individuals of similar age, gender, cultural background and geographical location, and are suitable for communication.
What is a voice disorder?
A voice disorder occurs when a person's voice quality, pitch and intensity begin to differ from individuals of similar age, gender, cultural background and geographical location. The inability of the laryngeal mechanism to meet the voice needs of the person's laryngeal mechanism for structural, functional or both reasons should suggest a voice disorder.
What are the factors that cause voice disorders?
The factors that will affect the voice production mechanism and cause voice disorder are very diverse. Voice abusive speech habits (speaking loudly, shouting, frequent throat clearing, etc.), medical reasons (laryngectomy, thyroid surgery, intubation, heart surgery, etc.), chronic diseases (respiratory problems, hormonal problems, stomach problems, allergies, etc.), habits (alcohol, smoking) or neurological disorders are the most important causes of voice disorders.
Is it possible to treat/therapize voice disorders?
In case of a voice disorder, a physician examination is required first. The physician will help you with the diagnosis and apply medical treatment when necessary or refer you to a speech and language therapist when voice therapy is needed. Because speech and language therapists apply voice therapy techniques to prevent, improve and prevent the recurrence of some voice disorders.
What is voice therapy?
It is a program that aims to teach patients how to produce the best possible sound using their vocal system, how to bounce back from damage or disease and how to protect themselves, and includes exercises that promote the balance of voice production physiology, help breathing coordination, and provide the appropriate pitch, height and sound quality necessary for voice production and vocal cord health. It is a preventive approach as part of a rehabilitation program to reduce or eliminate environmental influences and behaviors that may harm the voice and to provide the necessary use and care to keep the voice healthy. Depending on the disease and its symptoms, the therapy techniques applied vary.
How can I find speech and language therapists who can provide voice therapy?
You can find the addresses and phones of specialists in Turkey on the Association of Speech and Language Therapists (DKBUD) page(www.dkbud.org).
What can you do for the health of your voice?
- Drink 8 - 10 glasses of water during the day. When we do not consume enough water, our vocal cords, like every organ, cannot meet the moisture they need. When the vocal cords are dry, the secretions in the throat thicken, creating the need to clear the throat or cough. You can drink a glass of water when you wake up in the morning, a glass during meals, a glass in between, and a glass before going to bed.
- Avoid clearing your throat and coughing. Clearing your throat and coughing can damage the vocal cords. Instead, you can swallow hard or take small amounts of liquid. Clearing your throat and coughing may be caused by another underlying cause (such as reflux).
- Get a full night's sleep. Lack of sleep and tiredness will affect your voice quality.
- Avoid consuming menthol/ minty candies, chewing gum, etc. This type of consumption causes your throat and therefore your vocal cords to dry out. You can drink liquids or take throat lozenges instead of these consumables.
- Do not speak in long sentences. Speaking in short sentences allows you to use your breathing support correctly and speak more comfortably.
- Avoid speaking in a loud voice. Do not shout, call, call out! Being in a noisy environment (car/bus, shopping malls, streets, concerts, parties, restaurants, playgrounds, construction sites, traffic, speaking in front of a class, etc.) and calling out to someone in another room causes us to use our voice in a higher tone and pitch. This can damage the vocal cords. You can use a microphone when speaking in public. When you call out to someone in another room, you can engage in activities that do not use your vocal cords, such as whistling or ringing a bell.
- Do not talk on the phone for a long time. When talking on the phone, you can speak in a loud voice to make the other person hear your voice. Remember that speaking in a loud voice can damage your vocal cords.
- Avoid being in dry, smoky and dusty environments. Such environments cause your throat to become dry and irritated. Prefer non-smoking environments. Stay away from air conditioned environments. You can place containers of water at various points to humidify the environment. Wear a mask if you need to be in dusty environments.
- Avoid using your voice when you feel tired. Remember that you can damage your vocal cords if you continue to use your voice.
- Follow the recommendations given by your doctor regarding your stomach and/or throat reflux and avoid foods and drinks that cause reflux. Since reflux will negatively affect your vocal cords, your voice quality will also be affected.
- If you have problems with your voice for more than 15 days, consult the nearest ear, nose and throat doctor. For more than 15 days, there may be a problem underlying hoarseness.
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