This is the point of my article today...... to help each of us identify behaviors we may do which are abusive to our voice. Did you know your vocal chords or vocal folds as I usually call them are very delicate tissues and are easily damaged? Many people get "vocal nodules" and do not even know they have them. An otolaryngologist or ENT can diagnose them. They are bumps or scab-like tissue that occurs on the vocal chords and this makes it hard for them to come together to create a voice sound. These delicate vocal chords allow us to communicate important ideas and thoughts and are essential in interacting with others. It is important to keep this tissue healthy and undamaged for social reasons as well as health reasons. Pre-cancerous cells are not something to take lightly. Below is a list of a few behaviors that fall under the "vocal abuse" category. There are many more possible ones but these will give you an idea of what I mean. Please take note of the ones you may do everyday and not even realize.
1) Whisper or try to talk when you have laryngitis or a very hoarse raspy voice. 2) Yell to a person who is in another room or across the yard. 3) Work in a noisy work environment. 4) Own a pet such as a dog that you yell at when he's outside. 5) Are a student, pre-K through 12th grade who plays outside on a playground at recess, or in other extra-curricular events. 6) Clear your throat several times an hour. 7) Cough loudly-almost explosively- when sick or during asthma attacks.
If you answered any of these questions with a "yes, that's what I do" it is essential to begin to monitor your behavior DURING these events. Only when you recognize your behaviors and monitor them will you get an idea if you need to consider voice therapy. I will explain these in my next article, Vocal hygiene. I know it sounds "antiseptic" but it is not that bad---just common sense ways to keep our voice healthy.
Finally, if it is any consolation, I was a screamer as a child, I participated in sports, I cough explosively and clear my voice continually myself. I frequently get laryngitis with colds, and yes, I have vocal nodules. Even I find it hard to play by the rules I tell my patients but I try to keep it monitored especially when I get a cold. I get laryngitis everytime I am ill. This can make it very hard for me to do my job too I guess you can say. This all happened and I was diagnosed before I became a speech/language therapist. I have gone through voice therapy as a graduate student and I can sympathize with the vocal abuser. They are hard habits to break, but there is hope. Just listen to President Bill these days. He sounds much better, doesn't he. Like they say; awareness is the first step to "recovery".
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