Vocal Health

Frances AscottClinical Lead Speech and

Language Therapist

Contact information Frances Ascott ENT Dept Manchester Royal Infirmary 0161 276 4215 (voicemail) frances.ascott@cmft.nhs.uk

Course Outline Basic structure of vocal

mechanism Day to day protection-recognising

a problem Common problems and advice Seeking further help Dealing with stresses

Learning Objectives To understand the factors which affect

voice To know how to keep the voice healthy To know what to do when something

goes wrong.

Opportunity for Questions As we go along At the end of sessions Make an appointment/arrangement At end of course

Oral and Pharyngeal cavity

Oral cavity Contains the articulators Lined with moist mucosa Salivary glands secrete to maintain

moisture Air enters through here for singing

Nasal cavity

Nasal Cavity Nasal sounds m, n ng Nasality controlled by the

velopharyngeal port Too much air escape = hypernasal Inadequate nasality “bunged up” =

hyponasal Cranial bones superiorly, nasal

turbinates laterally, the hard and soft palates inferiorly and the pharyngeal wall posteriorly.

Lined with wet mucosal membrane

The Larynx Part of the vocal tract Top of the trachea Primarily designed for airway

protection so is hard wired t.o close up. 3 sphincters

Raising and lowering

Laryngeal Framework Cartilages

1 x epiglottis 1 x thyroid 1 x cricoid 2 x arytenoid 2 x corniculate 2 x cuneiform

Bone hyoid

Laryngeal framework

Soft Tissue Structures

Trachea

Vocal cords

Ventricular bands

Epiglottis

Extrinsic muscles Titze 1994

Laryngeal Elevators Elevators

Digastric Stylohyoid Mylohyoid Geniohyoid Hyoglossus Genioglossus muscles

Laryngeal depressors Sternohyoid Omohyoid

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Looking after your voice

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General Voice Care Principles Levels of care different for each

person Male voice generally stronger Take responsibility for your voice Take extra care when more at risk Risk factors change with

age/fitness

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Warning signs 1These are symptoms that you may

experience, which will alert you to the need to take extra care, or that you are not using your voice correctly. Each symptom listed may occur for a number of reasons, however we have made some specific suggestions of responses to try first.

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Warning signs 2 Frequent throat clearing - Don’t do it sip

water instead Pain/soreness in the throat - yawn to

release tension, don’t push Hoarseness/Croakiness/Creak - don’t run

out of breath Tickly cough - don’t be too loud & push 

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Warning signs 3 Voice loss - watch breath support and

neck tension Voice tired at the end of the day- watch

breath support etc Lump in throat - reflux, yawn to relieve

tension Loss of power/ability to shout - practise

humming and breath support apply to being loud situations

Dryness – sip water frequently

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Times to take care When you return to work/singing

after a holiday or illness When you are experiencing some

of the warning signs Sore throats with/without an

infection When you are tired When you are stressed

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Avoidance of strain Avoid unnecessary talking over noise

and incorrect shouting. If you need to shout try to do so with a smile. It should feel comfortable. Do not compete with background noise particularly when tired

Avoid repeated throat clearing. Try swallowing or sipping water. Be aware of catarrh. Inhaling steam may help, catarrh may be linked to dairy products

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Areas affecting safe voice production Tension and relaxation Posture Breathing Resonance Volume Muscular energy Intonation, pitch, pace and pause

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Environment Reduce the effects of hot dry

environment by opening windows, layer dressing so keeping cool and comfortable.

Avoid environmental fumes such as smoke and chemical smells where possible.

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Posture and Breathing Maintain good posture with no

unwanted tension. Check: easy head / neck / back alignment

Use good breathing from the lower part of the lungs.