Be Kind with Your Voice

World Voice Day is an annual event that takes place on April 16 to increase public awareness of the importance of the voice. This year’s theme is “Be Kind with Your Voice.” The goals of World Voice Day are to encourage people to learn to take care of their voice as well as to know how to seek help for a voice problem.

People who use their voice professionally are at highest risk for developing a voice problem. This year, Judith Koza, MA, CCC-SLP, one of our expert speech-language pathologists at the Speech-Language Institute (SLI), is here to help with tips on preventive measures that anyone can use to preserve vocal health.

These include:

DO: Adequately hydrate by drinking plenty of water

DO: Rest your voice briefly to prevent vocal fatigue, strain, and overuse

DO: Provide indoor air humidification in dry, arid environments

DO: Use an amplification device in large noisy spaces to reduce vocal strain

DO: Warm up your voice before heavy voice use

AVOID: Smoking and second-hand smoke that can irritate your airway, throat, nose, and mouth

AVOID: Overusing or straining your voice by yelling, speaking over loud noises, and whispering

AVOID: Excessive throat clearing and coughing

AVOID: Alcohol and caffeinated beverages, as they can dry the throat resulting in mucous thickening

AVOID: Ignoring prolonged hoarseness or throat discomfort. Consult your doctor if you experience these symptoms for more than one week

For more information or to schedule an appointment with an expert at SLI, call 215.780.3150.