Vocal Health

Contact Information
Instructor: Mr. Scott Hamilton
Phone: (406) 357-8138
Email: piano96scott@hotmail.com
As a singer, keeping your voice healthy is very essential. After all, your voice is your instrument.
However, in order for you to keep your voice healthy, you must have a basic understanding of
how the vocal folds work and how to identify signs of trouble. Throughout this handout, you will
explore the vocal folds, learn to identify signs of voice overuse and damaged voices, and discover
some tips to help keep your voice in tip top shape.

THE VOCAL FOLDS

(not vocal cords!)

The vocal folds, those tiny folds located in the larynx that breath sets in
motion, produce a buzzing sound that is our basic vocal tone. The vocal folds
are always close to each other at the front ends, but the arytenoids pull them
apart at the rear when we breathe in and bring them together again when we
speak or sing (Paton 39-42). Normal, healthy vocal folds look white and
smooth when they are rested and pinkish after vigorous use (Paton 42). The
image to the right shows an example of healthy vocal folds.

HOW DO WE KNOW IF THE VOICE IS INJURED?

I bet youre thinking that diagnosing a vocal injury is pretty easy. The truth is vocal injuries are
not as easily detectable as some people might think. For example, the vocal folds have no
proprioceptive nerves, meaning they have no way of telling us if they are being hurt (Paton 42).
However, if we are able to detect the subtle signs of vocal damage, we can easily correct any
problems in our daily singing habits and help prevent future and/or permanent injuries.
Below are a few common signs of vocal abuse or injury to look out for during your daily practice:
Hoarseness the edges are not closing perfectly and air is escaping between them.
o When the vocal folds are injured, the body sends extra mucus to cover their
surfaces and extra blood to heal internal damage. This increased blood supply
causes the vocal folds to turn pink or red, and they swell up, causing hoarseness.
Inability to Sing High Pitches
o The thin edges needed for singing high tones are unable to be formed.
Pain while Singing
o Usually the result of continuing to talk and sing after ignoring the above signs.
o Pain may develop as nearby muscles strain to compensate for the vocal folds
inability to work properly.
Loss of Voice
o The vocal folds become too swollen, causing its edges to become bumpy and
ultimately resulting in the loss of your voice.
o All we can do is rest them until the swelling goes down.
Above information from Paton 42-43.

VOCAL OVERUSE
Vocal overuse causes more voice problems than any other factor! (Paton 43) The next page
provides a list of some common ways we overuse our voices, as well as the fixes to these issues.

EXAMPLES OF VOCAL OVERUSE

(Examples taken from Paton 43)

1. Shouting, for instance, cheering at a sports event.

a. Instead, dance and wave your arms!
2. Insistent talking, like when we try to dominate others.
a. Instead, wait and let others talk.
3. Coughing and throat clearing, which violently rub the folds against each other.
a. Instead, find saliva in your mouth or drink water and swallow.

DAMAGED VOICES
Although there are many types of damaged voices, this
handout is going to focus on one type of vocal damage;
nodes.
Vocal Nodules are bumps on the edge of one or both folds
that develop as a result of continuous vocal overuse without
proper time to rest (Paton 43).
Nodes prevent the folds from closing correctly and cause a
reduction of range and volume. However, only a physician
can correctly diagnose vocal nodes (Paton 43).
If you have persistent hoarseness, consult a physician to find
out if you have nodes and have it treated ASAP!

GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GERD)

GERD is the result of an abnormal amount of reflux of stomach acid that travels through the
lower sphincter and into the esophagus. This can be quite damaging to the structures in the throat
(i.e. pharynx, larynx, vocal folds and lungs) because they are extremely sensitive to stomach acid
(Vocal Health Advice). If this is a problem for you, check out the website,
http://www.texasvoicecenter.com/advice.html, for more information and some possible
treatments.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR VOICE

Now that we have covered the different ways damage to the voice can occur, lets explore some
helpful tips to keep your voice healthy. From Paton 44-45 and Vocal Health Advice.
Stay Hydrated! Drink at least 2 quarts a day.
- It takes about 8 hours from the
time you take a drink of water for
it to reach your vocal folds (lecture).
- Avoid diuretics (i.e. caffeine) which drain
moisture from the tissues.
Avoid unnaturally dry places.
- Vaporizers, which increase humidity, are
helpful and can even help avoid respiratory infections.
Get plenty of rest, avoid stress, and eat a balanced diet.

Dont Smoke!
- It dries out the throat tissues
and damages your body.
Rest your voice often.
Find out the effects of
prescription drugs on the
voice.
- NCVS has a wonderful
website where you can see
how your meds affect your
voice. www.ncvs.org/rx.html

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

The following websites are great resources for more information on how to maintain optimal
vocal health. http://www.texasvoicecenter.com/advice.html and http://www.ncvs.org/products_health.html

Works Cited
Text
Paton, John Glenn. Foundations in Singing: A Guidebook to Vocal Technique and Song
Interpretation. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. Print.
Vocal Health Advice. Vocal Health Advice. Texas Voice Center, 2002. Web. 06 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.texasvoicecenter.com/advice.html>.

Pictures
Maintaining Vocal Health for Singers. How to Improve Your Singing Voice. N.p., n.d. Web. 06
Nov. 2014.
<http://www.howtoimproveyoursingingvoice.net/maintaining-vocal-health-for-singers/>.
Opera Smack. Sustaining Vocal Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2014.
<http://operasmack.blogspot.com/2010/02/sustaining-vocal-health.html>.
Papillomas of the Larynx. HPV-Papilloma Information. Haben Practice for Voice & Laryngeal
Laser Surgery, PLLC. 2009. Web. 06 Nov. 2014.
<http://professionalvoice.org/HPV-Papilloma.aspx>.
The Sop Spot. The Sop Spot. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2014.
<http://thesopspot.blogspot.com/>.