(Antony Nagelmann/©2006 NPR) - NPR’s Susan Stamberg says her voice now has an added roughness, which was “produced through happy, happy years of smoking.
After 40+ years on NPR, renowned radio host Susan Stamburg, at 74, has noticed changes in her voice. Check out her interview with The Washington Post to see her take on it. http://goo.gl/bmH0G
Have you noticed that your voice has lost some of its vitality or flavor? Have no fear, there are tools to help you revitalize your voice.
The science:
As we get older, our vocal folds or our thyroartyenoid muscles can become a bit less toned and the cover over them that vibrates (called the lamina propria including the mucosa) can become less elastic; as a result, we need to exercise our vocal folds.
The solution:
- Keep your breath deep and full by dancing, walking, riding a bike, and practicing yoga or pilates.
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Support your sound with breath by doing lip flutters, raspberries, making a kazoo sound with a Z or V or making an OO sound through a straw (visit Ingo Titze straw exercises on You Tube).
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Stretch your vocal folds by gliding up as high as you can and back down on an OO sound. You can do an OO glide using the straw also.
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Sing or hum a song, then speak the song.
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Recite poetry or read a newspaper article aloud every morning and be sure to vary your inflection up and down.
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Call yourself and leave a message on your voicemail.
If your voice does get stronger with these exercises, keep up the routine so that your voice remains toned and flexible. Your voice does not have to reveal your age. If these tips don’t make your voice stronger in about six weeks, see an Otolaryngologist or ENT to discuss other options. In the mean time, check out this article from the Wall Street Journal about new vocal surgery options, including collagen injections to plump up your vocal folds http://goo.gl/sVnuz
Please let us know if these tips work and which ones you like the best, or if you have other tips
