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Vocal hygiene (What to avoid doing (Voice) (Talking in noisy places (Face…
Vocal hygiene
What to avoid doing (Voice)
Phonotraumatic behaviours
Examples: screaming, shouting, cheering, excessive loud speech, laughter
Tx: use whistle, bell, other gestures to express emotions, know ilmits of voice, soft articualted speech better (take moment to compose yourself)
Forceful coughing, throat clearing, Non-productive cough
Tx
Dry swallow (swallow saliva in mouth): closes VF, helps remove mucus
Small sips of water
Silent cough: use abdominal support to push air thru glottis to produce h-strong air to push mucus off VF
Use hands to demo VF- coughing as clapping hands. Throat clearing as smack and rub. Hands feel tired, red
Hum lightly-one pitch
Laugh gently/giggle then swallow
Talk thru mucus, natural vibration of VF, may rid them of secretions
Vocalise lightly on 5-note scale in comfortable range. BUT not socially acceptable
Overall increased awareness of throat clearing: 5 min at morning, 5 min at night. Tally how many times they throat clear, might automatically start to use swallow, figure out which strategy works best for client. Play back recording, let them listen.
Talking in noisy places
Face listener
Gently overarticuiate BUT X get louder
Slow rate to avoid repetition: easier to hear msg
Speak at normal pitch
Focus on how voice feels cf. sounds
Use nonverbals
Wait until other person finishes
Move away from noise source
Excessive talking
Vocal naps=20 min silence 2-3 times a day, difficult for ppl at call centre. So recognise this
Limit phone time
Be a good listener
Balance voice use throughout day
Intersperse own voice use w others
Vocalisations when lifting, exercising
Exhale slowly on exertion phase
Adduct VF gently before starting exercise activity
Tennis players
Talking with URTI
Use amplification eg. mic
let audience see your lips
Arrange mic so that posture is ideal
What should you do more of?
Keep larynx, VF moist
Drink water frequently, X immediate solution bcos it is meant for the whole body. Only time when water touches VF is when we choke
Super hydrate before and during air travels. Even if you are not thirsty, just drink
Steam inhalations to humidify vocal tract. At least once a day
AVOID caffeine drinks,drying medications. Tell me how much you drink, what you drink
Add humidifier to env
Warm up voice before use
Hum gently, start with /h/ to get breath going
Hum gently on 2 comfortable pitches
Hum gently on 3,4 diff pitches
Hum simple melody eg. happy birthday-maintain smooth, even hum, vocalising thru straws
Maintain appropriate relaxation
Relax mouth: blow raspberries, smile, chew
Relax neck, shoulder
Relax vocal tract, larynx eg. silent giggle, large yawn to lower larynx, chewing, sighing, swallowing
Dev. awareness of tension sites, learn how to reduce tension
Reduce exposure to irritants
X smoke
, 2nd hand smoke,
X drink spirits, X have excess alcohol consumption
: diuretic dry throat, more prone to damage, cilia in lungs get clogged up, decreased mucus production, drier respiratory tract
Take fresh air breaks
Keep hydration level up
Wear mask pack
Improve ventilation
Maintain healthy lifestyle
Enough sleep
Exercise regularly
Appropriate diet
Appropriate singing, talking strategies
Upright, balanced posture
Support voice w enough breath
Singing lessons if appropriate
Maintain open mouth production
Face audience
Meds to be aware of
Antihistamines
Block symptoms
Runny nose
Nasal congestion
Watery eyes
Sneezing
Only offer symptomatic relief. Side effects: drying, thickening of URT secretions, dehydration, sedation
Pain relief
Aspirin, ibuprofen X use excessively: may cause platelet dysfunction, blood disorder, pre-dispose client to VF haemorrhage (thin the blood)
Side effects could lead to unconscious vocal abuse
Lozenges
If problem is sound of voice: lozenges X help. Have voice rest, hydration, steam
If problem is sore throat, cooling numbing lozenges OK, avoid heavy talking, singing as VF are swollen, sensitive to irritation
If problem is dry tickling cough, X lozenges!! Steam, fluids, rest. Sips of cold water. Lollies to stimulate saliva to keep throat moist
If problem is throat hurts for few days- if you try compensating for it, laryngeal mechanism change to accomodate, harder to retrain to safe vocal pattern.
Defn
Care for voice by being aware of what effects eg. foods, drinks, other elements have on your voice, overall health
Give every client tips on this even if they present as being vocally healthy, regardless of case history, diagnoses