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How to Take Care of Your Voice and Improve Its Quality

If you are a singer, you may have heard about things that can cause your vocal quality to deteriorate. Voice fatigue is a major problem for many professional singers. You might find your voice feeling dry or tired often. You may get sore throats on a regular basis. Vocal fatigue can be caused by several things, so it is important, if you plan to sing often, that you are very careful to take care of your voice properly.

If you suffer from heartburn or acid reflux, you are at even more risk for reduced vocal quality. As a singer, you may be aware that your larynx is, after all, vital, and gastro-laryngeal and gastro-esophageal acid reflux can damage your esophagus, larynx and vocal chords over time. Not to mention the other health problems that constant reflux can create.

Chronic acid reflux disease can cause you to have halitosis (incurable bad breath), a bitter taste in your mouth, a sore throat or a dry mouth. You might also feel like you have a lump in your throat, excessive amounts of phlegm and feeling like you need to clear your throat on a constant basis. As if that weren’t enough, it can even cause you to lose sleep because of discomfort in your throat and coughing when you are sleeping. So, if you want to protect your vocal quality and take good care of your voice, you should see a doctor at the first signs of a serious reflux problem. Your vocal chords will thank you for it in the long run.

Also, sopranos who speak in a low voice may be at risk for singers’ dysphonia (difficulty producing vocal sounds). Research indicates that speaking in a low voice and singing in a high voice can cause vocal problems. Major changes in pitch like that can affect sub-glottal air pressure, which is the air pressure that builds up below the vocal chords. In turn, that can affect the ability to produce a desired pitch.

Sopranos whose natural speaking voices are quite low compared to their singing voices are sometimes concerned that this disparity may be harmful to their singing careers. Some of these singers are right to be concerned, for singing/speaking pitch disparity may contribute to voice problems. Such major changes can put serious strain on the voice because more effort is needed to control the muscles around the larynx and vocal chords.

Sometimes, the speaking pitch of a soprano is affected by age. Most mezzo-sopranos speak in a range between 230 and 262 Hz. However, those who speak in low pitches tend to speak at around 224 Hz when they are young, 218 Hz when they reach middle age and 214 Hz when they get older.

Another thing that can affect vocal quality, believe it or not, is a woman’s premenstrual period.

If you have any trouble with any of those things, you may want to talk to a voice coach or voice pathologist. They can tell you how to protect your vocal chords and take care of your voice. That way you can keep your voice quality intact for years to come.

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Vocal fatigue and pain in the throat?

I am a professional singer and have been singing for many years. I have been diagnosed with pre-nodules after performing a demanding role for many months. I went to a conservatory of music, I am working with a great teacher and I KNOW that I am singing and breathing correctly. Here’s what’s happening lately: after singing for a while, the back of my throat starts to hurt. It’s as if someone stuck their hand down the back of my throat and scratched up the back of it. If I take a q-tip I can actually touch where it hurts…if I drink anything, the pain subsides. This tells me that it’s NOT my vocal cords. Can acid reflux do this? My voice also feels really tired now after rehearsing for an hour. What is happening to me?!!?

Have you tried consulting an EENT doctor? I experienced the same thing you did, but mine included hoarseness and a changed vocal range that persisted for almost more than a month. I consulted a doctor and he gave me prescription for acid reflux. According to him, it was a possible cause for my throat discomfort and hoarseness. My larynx was also checked through a process called endoscopy, and we saw that it was swollen, and that I had pre-nodules as well.

The doctor said it was not that bad as acid reflux, or laryngopharyngeal reflux, can be treated with proper medication, diet, lifestyle changes, or in some cases, singing or speech therapy.

Acid reflux can also be caused by vocal overuse, or vocal abuse. In your case, since you are certain that you are singing and breathing correctly, perhaps there are food irritants that caused the pain you’re feeling.

I think you should consult a doctor as soon as possible so you can make necessary treatments if ever.

I hope this helps. Good luck.