Speech with good vocal quality is essential to communication. However, vocal abuse behaviors are common in our daily life, leading to voice problems like pain, hoarseness and pitch break. Misuse of voice could escalate to vocal pathology, such as vocal nodules or polyps.

Protect your voice – dos and don’ts

Avoid vocal abuse behaviors such as speaking too fast, raising volume or whispering, habitual throat clearing and screaming.

Avoid prolonged phone calls and karaoke, allow voice to rest and have adequate sleep to keep vocal cords elasticity.

When having a flu or cough, minimize voice use and drink water or do a dry swallow instead of coughing out the congestion in the throat.

Drink plenty of water and intake less caffeinated drinks to maintain mucous vocal cords.

Highly effective voice production

Voice problems are commonly found in occupational voice users, including teachers, salespersons and receptionists. Hence, it is essential to establish correct ways to talk with highly effective voice production.

• Relax muscles of head, neck and shoulders
• Look forward with a leveled head
• Inhale deeply and slowly
• Speak when you are ready to exhale
• Articulate slowly and clearly
• Short breaks in long speech

── Speech Therapy Division