Here’s some vocal advice from my colleague half-way around the world. What she writes is as true in India as it is here in the U.S.
Did you know that some simple vocal activities might put undue strain on your voice? Throat clearing, coughing, loud sneezing, grunting while exercising, yelling, shouting over background noise are vocal habits that fall in this category. In these situations, there can be overly forceful contact of the vocal folds. Sometimes, even a single episode like cheering at a sports event or screaming at a rock concert can cause significant damage to vocal folds. Keep your volume at a conversational level to avoid vocal fold injury.
15-Second Fix—When you feel the urge to clear your throat, take a few sips of water. Also try to cough silently, using your abdominal muscles as if producing an ‘H’ sound. Humming gently and softly can work as well to help avoid throat clearing or coughing.
Dr. Sadhana Nayak M.S, D.O.R.L
Vocal Arts Medicine Specialist & Voice Performance Consultant
If you’d like to learn more about Dr. Sadhana Nayak and her medical practice in India, go to http://www.drsadhananayak.com or read about her on this site by clicking here for the Associates Page.
