This past week Senator Ted Cruz (TX) spoke for 21 hours and 19 minutes straight (http://goo.gl/YCEa0d). Could your voice accomplish this same feat?
The voice is a biomechanical system, made up of joints, ligaments, cartilage, and muscle. The tissues and muscles will fatigue at some point, much like the rest of the body, secondary to over-use. Vocal fatigue is common to many professions and lifestyles which are vocally demanding, including teachers, physicians, attorneys, singers, etc. In an otherwise normal larynx, vocal fatigue is exacerbated by dehydration, excessive laryngeal tension, prolonged voice use, prolonged loud voice use, and physical fatigue. Medical conditions can compound the situation too including vocal fold mass lesions, laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), asthma, and allergies.
So what can you do to improve upon your vocal endurance? Here are some helpful hints:
- The vocal folds need to be wet, and the mucous thin. Studies have demonstrated that vocal folds do not want to start vibrating, or keep vibrating in dehydrated conditions. And, the vocal folds can be weighted down with thickened mucous. So sip on water, frequently throughout the day, particularly with increasing voice demands. The temperature of the water does not seem to be significant.
- Drying medications such as anti-histamines, decongestants, and anti-depressants for example may contribute to fatigue. Discuss with your prescribing physician as to whether the medications are really necessary, and increase your water intake to compensate.
- Caffeine and alcohol can dehydrate the voice and trigger reflux. It’s best to avoid these particularly on the day of important voice use and even the day prior.
- Complete daily vocal warm-ups. Remember to use them to cool-down at the end of the day, and refresh your voice throughout the course of the day. Ask your speech pathologist.
- Brief frequent periods of voice rest are often beneficial to minimize fatigue effects on voice. However, prolonged periods of voice rest are typically not advised except for following voice surgery or vocal hemorrhage.
- Use amplification as the circumstance allows. Avoid use of a speaker phone, where people tend to talk too loud.
- Consult with a speech pathologist to establish a vocal rehabilitation routine to strengthen the voice through restoring normal vocal physiology.
- Pace your speech. Quick easy frequent breaths, with fewer words per breath is ideal.
- Treat medical conditions including reflux which may contribute to your vocal fatigue.
So, take care of your voice! It’s the only one you have. You can almost always improve upon vocal performance and endurance. Contact Voicetrainer LLC at info@voicetrainer.com or 202-580-6646 to schedule an appointment.
~LPV
