By Victoria Pavelko, MS, CCC-SLP
Your vocal folds, which come together to give us a voice, are only as big as your fingernail on your pinky finger! Small tendons have such a BIG job!
It starts and ends with your breath. Your lungs are like your car engine. They are the POWER SOURCE for effective voicing. When you inhale, your belly should expand to allow oxygen into the lower lobes of your lungs. When you exhale, your belly should contract to provide pressure underneath your vocal folds for effective loudness.
Pantomimes are only cool in the movies. Open up your mouth to allow room for your tongue to move throughout your mouth. This is what makes clear speech sounds for others to hear.
Everyone’s hearing acuity takes a nose dive at age 30! This likely translates to everyone needing to ‘SPEAK UP’ to allow for effective social interactions. You may think you are too quiet, but others may feel differently. Don’t be afraid to ask, “Can you hear me ok?”
Our bodies need water! We all should be drinking half of your body weight in ounces of fluid each day and AT LEAST 2/3’s of that should be water! The initial signs of dehydration can be seen in the protective covering of our vocal folds. If you have a hoarse voice and dry mouth – your vocal folds are craving more hydration!
Lemon drops for dry mouth are fantastic. They increase saliva production which increases the number of swallows. This moisture keeps the mouth moist and increased swallowing decreases post nasal drip symptoms.
Many have found great relief of dry mouth symptoms from Biotene products. Oral spray, lozenges, mouth rinse, and gum are now on the market to promote a moist, healthy mouth. Steer clear of products with Menthol; these can be very drying.
Learn how to YELL at your favorite sport team SAFELY! There should never be tension in your throat. Squeeze your abdominal muscles any time you raise your voice and use intensity. This will keep the tension out of your larynx and protect your delicate vocal folds.
Control your diet and control your reflux. If you have heartburn, there is a good chance acid has left your stomach and risen up your esophagus to meet your vocal folds. This acid is very damaging to the protective covering. Talk to your doctor about acid reflux treatment.
A speech pathologist who specializes in adult voice/speech therapy can help you improve your vocal loudness, quality, and intensity when speaking! Happy chatting!