World Voice Day: why it’s important to promote your care

We must keep in mind that the voice is not only a tool with which we can communicate, but that it is a building block of our identity.: each of us has a different and personal voice, which sets us apart from others. For many, it is also their working tool. Every April 16, World Voice Day is celebrated, at the initiative of the Federation of Otorhinolaryngology Societies.

About 5% of the population has voice disorders and requires specialized medical care. These alterations usually appear between the ages of 25 and 45, especially in those with professions such as speaking, teaching, and acting. It has been proven that most of the time they are due to misuse and abuse of the voice and overwork. For all this, in these people, it is very important to carry out an annual check.

Too consultation of the elderly is very frequent due to the loss of sound volume. This is caused by a decrease in muscle tone throughout the body, including the vocal cords. This affects the richness of sound and is a natural deterioration caused by the years. In this age group, the lack of communication decreases because, sometimes, they live alone. In addition, The presence of gastroesophageal reflux or postnasal mucus, which is very common in the elderly, contributes to the loss of strength in the voice.

It is important to draw attention to hoarseness or feeling tired when speaking is not normal: These are two reasons to consult the specialist.

The voice can be temporarily affected by a cold, flu or laryngitis. In such cases, recovery should take place in about two weeks. Otherwise, it is important to consult the ENT specialist, who will determine the need for form a multidisciplinary team with speech therapy specialists. There are also professionals dedicated exclusively to the study and treatment of voice disorders. As with most illnesses, consultation should be early to detect the problem and initiate the appropriate treatment.

Caring for your voice during a pandemic

These days, The obligatory use of a mask and a nose cover (chin straps or masks) forces us to force our voice: This effort or misuse of the voice can harm us.

A recent study, published in the Journal of Voice, concluded that the use of the jugular makes us unconsciously increase the vocal effort, which over time can lead to dysfunction and increase the risk of developing functional dysphonia.

When using the chin strap, you should control the volume and avoid forcing the voice to be heard, so that the vocal cords are not affected. To avoid this, it is recommended:

-Breathe comfortably.

-Try to speak calmly.

-Do not use residual air.

-Avoid drowning.

-Try, if possible, to vocalize well.

-Speak clearly and slowly so you don’t tire yourself out and don’t have to repeat yourself.

– Hydrate yourself to avoid a dry throat.

-Stay between sentences.

– Make periods of silence.

The recommendation is aimed at the general population, but in the professional field, consultation becomes a bit difficult. For example, Otolaryngologists also treat hearing-impaired patients who read our lips: for them we must wear transparent chinstrap. In some cases, given the physical proximity to the patient at the time of the examination, the use of two superimposed masks is recommended.

In the aforementioned study, it is specified that disposable surgical masks have less influence on the acoustic properties of speech than other types of masks.

This year, the theme for World Voice Day is “One World, Many Voices”. To the usual care of the COVID-19 pandemic, let’s add that of our voice and that of our loved ones.

* Stella Maris Cuevas (MN: 81701) is an ENT – Odor expert – Allergist. Former President of the Association of Otolaryngology of the City of Buenos Aires (AOCBA)

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