Oct 31, 2014

What You Should Know about Vocal Health

Vocal Health: Hearsay and Hard Facts

At any one time in the United States, it is estimated that roughly 9% of the population— 28,000,000 people in all—is negatively impacted by a voice disorder (Verdolini & Ramig, 2001). For certain subsections of the population who rely heavily on voice use, such as clergy, teachers, lawyers, and singers, the prevalence of voice disorders may be even higher. Singers are in an unusual position when it comes to voice problems. They are often the most sensitive of occupational voice users, attuned to every minute shift in resonance and tension, and yet very few singers understand the anatomic and physiologic details of how their voices work. This leads to something of a vicious cycle: voice changes lead to fear and panic, and singers, looking around for explanations and solutions, find few tools in their toolboxes other than home remedies and singer folklore, often passed down second- or thirdhand from unreliable sources. If the voice problem worsens, singers can begin to blame themselves, their technique, or their teacher. I should know—I did it myself when I had voice problems as an undergraduate voice major.

Certainly, the world has its fair share of less-than-healthy techniques, and its fair share of teachers who push for fringe techniques instead of emphasizing the basic building blocks of healthy singing: breath, balanced resonance, and absence of strain. Having had the opportunity to work in one capacity or another with many of the voice teachers at the Madison Music Foundry, I’m happy to say that all of them have a solid grounding in these singing fundamentals. As with all elite athletes, however, singers go through their ups and downs no matter how good their instrument or technique. What can you do if problems develop?

• Schedule an appointment with an otolaryngologist and a speech-language pathologist specializing in clinical treatment of performing voice. Together, these medical and behavioral specialists will visualize your larynx (voice box) to check for abnormal “lumps or bumps,” take acoustic and aerodynamic data to identify functional voice problems, and make recommendations regarding voice therapy or, in extreme cases, surgery. The University of Wisconsin Voice & Swallow Clinic, located at the UW Hospital, is a preeminent center for voice care in the Midwest.
• Keep track of your vocal bank account. Just as everyone has a limit on how much money they can spend before they run out, everybody’s voice can only spend so much before it needs to rest and replenish itself. If you have only 100 voice dollars to spend in a day, make sure you’re spending them wisely! Yelling, screaming, talking over background noise, and talking for long periods of time all cost a lot. Conversely, gentle humming, adequate water intake, proper warm-up and cool-down during singing practice, and taking small breaks from talking throughout the day may actually add money to your account. Remember: you can do anything you want vocally, but you probably can’t do everything you want. It all comes down to choices.
• Be gentle with yourself. In the same way that we don’t blame athletes for injuries they sustain while playing their sport, we shouldn’t assume that all voice problems are “our fault.” Some may be completely outside your control; of those that are within your control, there are no “good” and “bad” behaviors that contribute to the problem, only behaviors on a continuum ranging from “less healthy” to “more healthy.”
• Seek out educational opportunities. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association is the accrediting body for speech-language pathologists, the branch of professionals who evaluate vocal function and provide voice therapy as appropriate. Their website, www.asha.org, has a wealth of free information regarding voice disorders. Additionally, you can sign up for the Vocal Health Workshop happening November 23 and 30 right here at the Foundry—we’ll cover the basics of how your voice works, as well as how to keep it in peak condition.

Thanks for reading—until next time, keeping singing healthy!

Christopher Apfelbach is a 2012 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor's of Music in Vocal Performance. Although primarily a classical singer, he has been an avid musical theater and choral performer for over 15 years, and still maintains an active performance career in local companies such as Madison Opera and Four Seasons Theatre. Currently a second-year graduate student in speech-language pathology, Chris specializes in voice science and rehabilitation, striving to improve singing health and wellness in children and adults of all ages.

Works Cited:
Verdolini, K., & Ramig, L. (2001). Review: Occupational risks for voice problems. Log Phon Vocol, 26, 37–46.


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