by Nancy Daniels
Known as vocal abuse, chronic hoarseness, sore throats, and even loss of voice are on the rise and unless you take steps to eliminate this serious problem, the damage to your vocal folds (cords) can be permanent. Unfortunately, permanent damage cannot be undone. Taking the proper steps to eliminate vocal abuse, however, results in the saving of your voice and the ability to increase your volume without shouting as well as greater longevity for speaking.
I cannot tell you how many people complain to me of chronic hoarseness or sore throats and they are not sick. What is causing the problem is misuse or misplacement of the voice: excessive wear and tear of the vocal folds; and it is very individual. Some people can yell all day with no difficulty, soreness or pain; others cannot.
Hillary Clinton is a prime example of vocal abuse. For almost two years she campaigned daily and put tremendous pressure on her throat and vocal folds. By the end of her campaign the stress on her voice was obvious: her pitch had lowered (which was a blessing) and she was unable to increase volume. Prior to this change, she was constantly yelling and shouting. Had she had training, not only would she have had more voice by the end of the day but more energy as well. In addition, she would have been able to increase her volume without shouting. This is called projection and it is only possible if the voice is placed properly in speaking.
If you suffer vocal abuse, it will never improve unless you change your voice placement. While we have 5 resonators or cavities in which the voice will vibrate when producing sound, most people are using only 4 of them when they speak: the voice box, throat, mouth, and nose. The one that is missing is the chest cavity.
Those who have had training are able to use their chest as their primary resonator or amplifier and they sound like James Earl Jones, Kathleen Turner, George Clooney and Diane Sawyer. Their voices exhibit warmth, depth, resonance.
When you learn to place your voice properly, you will discover those qualities as well and your vocal abuse will end. In addition, you will find your voice continually improving with age, because you have taken the pressure off your voice box and throat. So, when you are 85, you may look your age, but you won't sound like it.
There is absolutely no other way to alleviate vocal abuse except one: stop talking. And, for most people, that is no way. Drugs cannot make your voice better. Whispering cannot make your voice better. (Incidentally, whispering actually makes your voice worse because your voice box is then doing all the work - whispering is a no-no!)
Learn to use your voice properly and the vocal abuse will end. Imagine a voice that has power, resonance and longevity. By the way, you will also like your 'new' voice on your answering machine!
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