| This document contains Frequently Asked Questions
regarding proper voice use, myths of surgery and improper
voice use, and outlines a simple technique aimed at helping
one improve his or her voice.
Section 1 - Introduction
Q1.01. Do people judge a person by his or her voice?
Q1.02. Can a good voice make you feel better?
Section 2 - Voice Myths and Beliefs
Q2.01. I have strained my voice. My friends have told me not
to talk louder than a whisper or else I will strain it further.
What do you think?
Q2.02. Why should I work on my speaking voice? Isn't it the
one I was born with?
Q2.03. Is it possible to have permanent laryngitis?
Q2.04. I have been told to rest my voice, but I have to talk.
What do I do?
Q2.05. My voice seems to get better as I lose weight. Is there
any connection between the two?
Q2.06. I have been told that posture is the reason I have
a bad voice. Is there any truth to that?
Q2.07. My voice seems to be worse with a change in the weather.
What is the connection?
Section 3 - Basic Techniques
Q3.01 Okay, how do I begin to improve my voice?
Section 4 - Hearing Disorders
Q4.01. My three-year-old son is hard of hearing, and his speech
is poor. Should I wait until he is older to help with his
speech?
Q4.02. Can a person who is severely hard of hearing have a
normal voice?
Section 5 - Medicine and Surgery
Q5.01. I recently read about an experimental voice cord injection
technique to help patients with spastic dysphonia. Does it
work?
Q5.02. My doctor tells me I have a growth on my vocal cord
called "papilloma." He advises surgery, but I don't
want surgery. What do you advise?
Q5.03. I was told I had two growths called "polyps"
on my vocal cords. I tried an inhaler, then pills, shots,
gargles, voice rest and even bed rest, but all these things
failed. What do you recommend?
Section 1 - Introduction
Q1.01. Do people judge a person by his or her voice?
A1.01. Many people do. Ask them. They make snap judgments
about a person simply from what they hear. Voice is thought
to reflect a person's personality.
That isn't always true because the person may not be using
his or her voice correctly, not having had any direction.
They may, in fact, be reflecting sounds from family and society.
The well-used voice has a "feel-good" sound. It
builds the speaker's confidence and makes a positive impression
on others. A natural, healthy voice can turn lives around.
Q1.02. Can a good voice make you feel better?
A1.02. Definitely. It gives you assurance that you are "someone",
that people are listening to you, not tuning you out. Have
you noticed during a conversation that people may turn away,
forget you, or even ignore you? That may be because your voice
isn't representing you as best it can. It doesn't get the
attention it, and you, deserve. Once you find your natural
voice, you may feel better, be more effective, and be listened
to.
Section 2 - Voice Myths and Beliefs
Q2.01. I have strained my voice. My friends have told me
not to talk louder than a whisper or else I will strain it
further. What do you think?
A2.01. This is a common belief but, in fact, is not true.
It's easy enough to talk softly, but then you are not yourself,
and you are not using your real voice. More often than not,
if you continue whispering or talking softly, you wind up
with a serious voice disorder. First, you need to have your
throat checked by a doctor. Then you need to learn how to
speak properly, and with as much volume and ease as you want.
It can be done. In fact, people who were once advised as you
were, cannot believe that they ever considered such a myth.
Q2.02. Why should I work on my speaking voice? Isn't it the
one I was born with?
A2.02. This is voice myth. We are all creatures of habit.
We get into a voice pattern and stay with it, believing that
it is our only option. It is not. I can't put a voice in you,
but I can show you how to bring out your God-given natural
voice, one that has star quality. You can have a voice that
is richer, fuller, and easier to listen to.
Q2.03. Is it possible to have permanent laryngitis?
A2.03. Some people think they do, and they think it is the
way things have to be. But that's not necessarily true because
permanent laryngitis doesn't exist ordinarily. If laryngitis
or hoarseness lasts more than two weeks, the individual should
see a medical doctor. So-called "permanent laryngitis"
without medical cause merely indicates you are hurting your
voice by using it as you do. Nearly all cases of "laryngitis"
I have seen are not permanent at all. They are temporary,
due to voice misuse and abuse. But continued wrong use of
the voice creates a voice that leaves both the patient and
listener believing nothing can be done.
Q2.04. I have been told to rest my voice, but I have to talk.
What do I do?
A2.04. You can talk all day long, under normal circumstances,
if done correctly; your voice should go on and on, clearly
and easily. There are exceptions, however. If you had surgery,
you should rest your voice briefly-not long. If you yelled
at a game and went hoarse, you should rest your voice. But
if you are misusing your voice, resting it won't help. Once
you start talking again, your voice will tire and continue
to bother you. You need to learn how to use your voice properly.
Q2.05. My voice seems to get better as I lose weight. Is
there any connection between the two?
A2.05. The voice may be affected by being overweight. The
body may tire, and anything that fatigues the body can affect
the voice. Generally, the pitch becomes lower. It is much
easier to speak lower as you become fatigued by the excess
weight. Breathing becomes harder, so you work harder for breath
suppotr-and at the wrong pitch. Though being overweight can
induce a voice problem, or add to it, the weight need not
cause or contribute to voice difficulty. It depends upon the
individual, the circumstances, and how the voice is used.
Weight is but one factor that affects the voice.
Q2.06. I have been told that posture is the reason I have
a bad voice. Is there any truth to that?
A2.06. Posture has very little to do with voice production.
The way you move your head, stand, or sit, is of little importance
in the correct use of your voice. If you have a bad voice,
it is due to incorrect pitch, tone focus, volume, quality,
and breathing.
Q2.07. My voice seems to be worse with a change in the weather.
What is the connection? A2.07. Your emotions, most likely.
If you are depressed or morose, the pitch and tone of voice
may drop. If you are happy, the voice may rise. However, some
people suffering from allergies are indeed affected by the
weather. The voice mechanism may react to pollens and become
contained or falter. It needn't.
Section 3 - Basic Techniques
Q3.01 Okay, how do I begin to improve my voice?
A3.01 The following is an excerpt from Chapter
2, of Stop Commiting Voice Suicide.
The Instant Voice Press is a holistic technique that basically
gives you the correct tone focus, natural pitch level and
range, and the sound of your real voice. The Instant Voice
Press is a simple 3-for-1 procedure that may give you everything
"in a nutshell." (NOTE: If there are any medical
problems involving the area of the solar plexus or the abdomen,
or if you are pregnant, DO NOT attempt this exercise.)
To use my Instant Voice Press, begin by placing one hand
on your solar plexus, the center area at the bottom of your
breast bone (or between the solar plexus and the navel). Now
relax your stomach so that it moves in and out as you breathe.
With your lips closed, hum while repeatedly pressing your
solar plexus gently with your fingers in a light, quick rhythm.
" Hmmmmmm." (Hold that "hmmmmmm." ) "Hmmmmm."
"Hmmmmm."
This gentle jiggling of the solar plexus will cause your
"hmmmm" to break up into short bursts of sound like
"hmmm-hmmm-hmmm-hmmm-hmmm . . ."
Do this exercise once again. Close your lips and hum while
lightly pressing your fingers, gently jiggling, at the bottom
of the breast bone where the two sides of the rib cage join.
As the sound escapes, you will feel a buzz around your mouth
and nose. You are actually directing your voice into the mask
area, precisely where it should be.
Next, do the Instant Voice Press with your mouth open, saying
"Ahhhhhhh."
Try the exercise again, this time adding a number as you
press. Start with "hmm-hmm-one," "hmm-hmm-two,"
"hmm-hmm-three."
Then use "ahh-ahh-one," "ahh-ahh-two,"
"ahh-ahh-three."
Finally, carry this sound over to talking, beginning with
one word at a time. "Ahh-my-ahh-name-ahh-is-ahh ___."
Keep the sentence short and learn to talk on the buzz, which
is a resonance around the lips and nose.
Can you achieve that same focus and pitch level without pressing
your magic button? Raise both hands high above your head and
repeat the following words with energy. "RIGHT."
"NO." "REALLY." I call these words "buzz
words" because they help bring your real voice forward.
Whenever you seem unable to locate your correct pitch level
and focus, revert to the Instant Voice Press and use the "hmmm,"
"ahhh" and buzz words. I have used these techniques
for years to help individuals find their real voices in seconds.
It is a good idea to start your day with these exercises.
(In the movie, "Sister Act," I noticed that Sister
Mary Clarence, played by Whoopi Goldberg, used the Instant
Voice Press on another Sister to bring her efficient singing
voice out.)
Section 4 - Hearing Disorders
Q4.01. My three-year-old son is hard of hearing, and his
speech is poor. Friends and associates have suggested that
I wait until he is four or five for help with his speech,
believing that he might outgrow the problem, at least, partially.
I am fearful that I might be wasting valuable time, and hurting
his chances for progress. What is your suggestion?
A4.01. For a child with a hearing handicap, speech therapy,
as well as auditory training, is not only appropriate but
essential. There is a "speech readiness" period
for a child. That is a time when the child develops his speech
most fully, and most naturally. The hearing-handicapped child
is deprived (to varying degrees) of natural and normal sound
stimulation that hearing children have. Therefore, the hearing-handicapped
child falls behind in speech ability and development. If you
wait until he is four or five, you are allowing time to waste
away and the speech readiness period to dissipate. Your son
may outgrow some of his speech problems, but it is not likely,
especially with a hearing problem. He needs sound stimulation
and speech therapy now.
Q4.02. Can a person who is severely hard of hearing have
a normal voice?
A4.02. A patient of mine from England told me that three
almost deaf voices in her family all have normal voices. They
were taught voice as well as speech from early childhood by
the school system. In my office, by using the Voice Mirror
Machine and hum technique, individuals who are severely hard
of hearing can be helped to have normal voices.
Section 5 - Medicine and Surgery
Q5.01. I recently read about an experimental voice cord injection
technique to help patients with spastic dysphonia. Does it
work?
A5.01. You are referring to an experimental procedure used
in some hospitals, whereby the patient's vocal cord is injected
with botulinum, an invasive toxic substance. Botulinum is
a diluted form the deadly botulism. The downside and side
effects affecting the body, as well as the vocal cord, are
not fully known. The procedure causes a temporary parasis
or paralysis rather than a permanent paralysis of the vocal
cord and generally involves repeated doses for life. It was
orignally thought that the injection would last nine months,
but the period may be reduced to six months, three months,
or six weeks.
In the December, 1999 National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association
Newsletter, page 7, Dr. Gerald Berke, Chairman of UCLA Head
and Neck Division reports regarding Botox (botulinum toxin):
"...there are some obvious drawbacks. It requires lifelong
visits from 4 to 10 times per year for repeat injections.
The injections are not inexpensive. The interval between post
injection breathiness, good voice, and the return of symptoms
may not be very long in some patienst. Hypersensitivity and
antibody formation have been shown to produce some long term
structural changes in muscle cells."
Q5.02. My doctor tells me I have a growth on my vocal cord
called "papilloma." He advises surgery, but I don't
want surgery. What do you advise?
A5.02. Vocal misuse and abuse, I have found, may contribute
to the onset and development of the kind of growth you have.
In 1971 at UCLA Medical Center, my study revealed that within
a period of three months, four out of eight patients with
biopsied papillomata of the vocal cords either reduced or
eliminated the growths through Direct Voice Rehabilitation-change
of pitch, tone focus, breathing, and voice hygiene; these
findings were published in the _Journal of Speech and Hearing
Disorders_.
Q5.03. I was told I had two growths called "polyps"
on my vocal cords. I tried an inhaler, then pills, shots,
gargles, voice rest and even bed rest, but all these things
failed. What do you recommend?
A5.03. Polyps are benign growths on the vocal cords. Surgery
can remove polyps, but since voice misuse-the wrong pitch,
quality, volume, and placement of the voice-often creates
them, it is essential you learn how to use your speaking voice.
These growths have responded extremely well to voice therapy.
But if you choose not to learn correct voice usage, you will
most likely continue to experience voice difficulty. My advice
is: Change the way you are using your voice.
All material Copyright 1998 by Morton Cooper.
All "Questions and Answers", except those in Section
3 are excerpts from his book "Winning With Your Voice",
Fell Publishers, Copyright 1990. "Questions and Answers"
from Section 3 are excerpts from his book, "Stop Committing
Voice Suicide", Voice & Speech Company of America,
Copyright 1996. |
