Disclaimer: The below information is provided from the standpoint of a voice trainer. Always seek the help of a medical professional! Medical professionals include otolaryngologists, speech therapists, ear, nose and throat doctors, pediatricians, and general practitioner doctors.
People tend to take their voice for granted, yet when the voice is not working properly or not working at all, it can affect everything a person does. A singer who can't sing, a speaker who can't speak, a teacher who can't talk, a customer service rep who can't use the phone or speak to customers in the store, are just some of the scenarios that illustrate the point.
Here are some questions to ask yourself if you are having difficulty with your voice: Does your voice feel raspy? Do you have difficulty making a sound? Do you have to use a lot of force just to get a sound out? Are you clearing your throat a lot? Do you experience sore throats frequently? Do you have pain or discomfort in your throat when you sing or speak? Do people ask you to speak up or stop mumbling? Has the quality of your voice changed suddenly? Do you get sick a lot? Do you have asthma or allergies? When you speak, does your voice start out well and then trail off by the end of the sentence or phrase? Is your voice excessively breathy? Are you experiencing loss of vocal range? When practicing, rehearsing, recording, speaking, or performing, does your voice get tired quickly?
These questions bring your attention to just some of the vocal issues people have. Even if you cannot identify the source or the specific nature of the problem, just being able to acknowledge that something isn't quite right with your voice is a big first step!
Some vocal problems include: swollen vocal cords vocal nodules (like callouses on the vocal cords) laryngitis (from illness)
and also - polyps (like a blister on the vocal cords) hemmoraghing of the vocal cords
There are many other conditions of vocal ill-health. Please consult your doctor with your questions.
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