By Hannah Junker, MS, CCC-SLP
Vocal hygiene is a daily regimen of good habits to maintain the health of your vocal folds. These include eliminating behaviors or situations that place unnecessary wear and tear on your voice and using common sense behaviors which attribute to good voice production and overall voice health.
The following is a list of some tips for keeping your voice healthy:
- Avoid Irritants
- Avoid cigarettes and second hand smoke
- Manage reflux/heartburn
- Consult doctor to discuss any medications that may be affecting your voice
Take Care of Your Body
- Drink 6-8 eight-ounce glasses of water/day (half your body in weight in ounces/day if you are active)
- Rest
- Exercise
- Practice good nutrition
Use Good Voice Habits
- Avoid throat clearing and coughing
- Avoid whispering
- Warm up your voice before making big demands of it
See your doctor and discuss a speech language pathology referral if you experience any of the following symptoms for more than two weeks (not accompanying a cold):
- Sore throat or pain during or after voice use
- Hoarse, scratchy, rough voice
- Increased effort when producing voice
- Decreased loudness or pitch range
- Breathiness, weakness, or voice fatigue
- Shaky, strained voice
- Voice cutting off unexpectedly
If you have concerns about your voice, talk to your health care provider. Our providers at Rainy Lake Medical Center are here to help.
