Voice Production requires the coordination of 3 systems:

 

1. LARYNX: or Voice Box, this is where “crude” voice is produced. For the voice box to work effectively it requires an “air pressure” system. The lungs together with the diaphragm (the muscle that separates the chest and the abdomen), the abdominal muscles, the chest muscles and the ribs compose the “air pressure” system. This system is responsible for regulating the flow of air through the voice box. It causes the 2 vocal chords to vibrate, hence producing the “crude voice” often described as “buzzy sound”.
   The voice pitch is determined by the caliber of the voice box. Thus, for example, a man’s voice is low pitch and a woman’s voice is high pitch.
2. RESONATING SYSTEM: transforms the “buzzy sound” into a person’s recognizable voice: “voice timber”. Mouth, Nose and Sinuses compose the resonating system.
3. ARTICULATION: this is the mechanism by which recognizable words are produced. it requires a coordinated movement involving soft palate, tongue and lips.

THE WHOLE MECHANISM OF VOICE PRODUCTION IS REGULATED BY THE BRAIN.

Voice Hygiene

Your Voice, very much like your teeth, for example, requires you to look after it.

Smoking cessation and avoidance tops the list of things to do if you want to keep a healthy voice. Smoking is also responsible for serious health problems. In particular cancer of the airway and the lungs.

I also invite you to visit the page relating to Acid Reflux, it contains important information relating to Voice Hygiene.

The TEN COMMANDMENTS to keep a healthy voice are the following: 

1.  DON’T SMOKE: smoking damages the voice, accelerates “wear and tear” and cause cancer
2. ELIMINATE HABITUAL CHRONIC THROAT CLEARING-COUGHING: try taking sips of water when you feel the urge to clear your throat or if you have chronic dry cough.
3. DRINK LOTS OF WATER: the voice production mechanism needs humidification to work effectively. Like a machine that needs oiling!
4. CONTROL AND LIMIT VOCAL LOUDNESS – DO NOT COMPETE VOCALLY: avoid yelling, screaming, shouting etc.. particularly in noisy environment.
5. BALANCE EXTRA VOCAL DEMAND WITH VOICE REST: rest your voice before and after periods of excessive voice use. Listen more, talk less.
6. HUMIDIFY THE ENVIRONMENT: particularly the bedroom! At night we tend to breath more through the mouth and we swallow less saliva, hence, the upper aero-digestive tract tends to dry-up.
7. USE MEDICATIONS WITH CAUTION: particularly OTC lozenges that contain local anaesthetics.
8. AVOID ALCOHOL AND CAFFEINE: Alcohol, Caffeine as well as diuretics can cause fluid depletion from the body including the vocal cords.
9. REDUCE OR ELIMINATE LARYNGO-PHARYNGEAL REFLUX (LPR): this is a very common, yet ignored problem. it is caused by gastric acid flowing backwards toward the upper airway. Unlike the stomach the gullet, voice box, throat..etc.. are not protected against acid. Stomach acid can be a major irritant to these structures. You must not ignore this problem that can be very serious. There is a dedicated section to LPR on my website, please refer to it.
10. USE VOICE AND SPEECH THERAPY: do not wait until your voice problems become severe to consult a medical professional. Voice and Speech therapists are very well trained to deal with your voice problems/hygiene. Their contribution in our speciality is invaluable.

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