CARE FOR THE

PROFESSIONAL
VOICE
November 22, 2022
Feast of St. Cecilia
University of San Agustin
Iloilo City
 Marida Arend V. Arugay, MD,
DPBO-HNS, FPSO-HNS, FPCS
HEAD

DEPARTMENT OF ENT-HNS
Western Visayas Medical Center
VOICE
 Acoustical end product
 Smooth, balance, dynamic
interrelated system
 Involving RESPIRATION,
PHONATION & RESONANCE
Speech.. A most precious GIFT
Should not be abused - used in an
inconsiderate way
Warning: The tongue is a fire- the very
world of iniquity. The damage it does
can come from useless arguments,
sarcasm, calumnies, gossips…(From
the letter of St. James. New Testament)
How many friendships
 …have been ruined by
tongues out of control !!!
Do you experience any of the
following?

Hoarseness
Voice breaks
Throat clearing
Chronic cough
Sore throat
previously intubated for COVID-19 who has developed posterior glottic stenosis.
VOICE PROBLEMS
 Functional
 Organic
 Interaction of both
functional & organic
FUNCTIONAL VOICE DISORDERS

 Voice abuse
 Personality disturbances
 Emotional stress-
musculoskeletal tension
 Improper vocal use
 Some personality types
ORGANIC VOICE
DISORDERS
 Papilloma
 Vocal cord nodules
 Vocal cord polyp
 Leukoplakia
 Unilateral abductor paralysis
 Laryngo-Pharyngeal Reflux
Disease (LPRD)
LARYNGITIS
 INFECTIOUS
 Viral URI- most common in acute
laryngitis
 Bronchitis, Pneumonia,
Influenza,Pertussis, Measles, Diphtheria
 NON-INFECTIOUS
 Allergic, Non-allergic- due to Irritants
 LPRD
Recurrent-Chronic Laryngitis
 Excessive use of voice-Voice abuse
 Allergic reaction
 Inhalation of irritating substances-
cigarette , smoke, muriatic acid,
“chlorox”, air fresheners
 TYPE A personality- LPRD
CHRONIC HOARSENESS
 History of smoking and drinking
alcoholic beverages
 Hoarseness of more than two weeks
 Indirect/direct laryngoscopy
 Consider laryngeal carcinoma or
laryngeal TB
 How to take care of one’s voice.

VOICE HYGIENE
Voice care
 Avoid talking/singing for more than 2 hours
 Avoid shouting
 Learn how to relax
 Gargle warm water 3x a day
 Avoid drinking ice cold drinks after a lecture
 AVOID EXPOSURE TO CHEMICALS
 Clean all electric fans & ACU regularly
VOICE CARE
 Avoid sleeping late – have at least 7
hours of sleep daily
 Use a microphone if needed (remember-
do not shout)
 Avoid too much stress
 Avoid alcoholic beverage & cigarette
smoke
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle:
 Don't demand more of your voice
than you would the rest of your body.
 Don't use your voice extensively
when you are sick, or when you feel
tired.
 Don't use your voice when it feels
strained.
Some Do’s and Don’t’s
 Wait after aerobic  DON’T SPEAK
exercises until your EXTENSIVELY
breathing system DURING
can accommodate STRENUOUS
EXERCISE
relaxed voice
production
 Avoid aggressive
voice “grunts”
while lifting weights
Do’s and Don’t’s
 CONSULT your  Don't slouch or
doctor if you adopt unbalanced
experience throat postures.
symptoms or voice  Don't Abuse Your
change for more than Voice
a few days  Don't clear your
 Do maintain an throat or cough
upright POSTURE habitually
 Do swallow hard
 Don't yell, cheer or
instead of throat scream habitually.
clearing  DON’T SMOKE!!!
More Do’s
 Keep the air and your body clean and
humid.
 Drink 8-10 glasses of water (non
caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages)
daily
 LEARN AND USE GOOD POSTURE
ALIGNMENT
More Do’s
 Sip some water, swallowing slowly

 YAWN to relax your throat

 HUM a tune to concentrate on

resonance
EXPOSURE TO POLLUTANTS

 Should be avoided at all times

 Your own house/ bedroom
 Cleanliness is the best ?
 Cleaning agents: muriatic acid, chlorox,
detergents
 Perfumes, air fresheners
 Floor wax, shoe shine agents
 Some foods to avoid
 Too sweet, too spicy, too
salty
 Too hot, too cold, too sour,
too fancy
 Processed meat
 Artificial food coloring
 Junk foods
 Role of
STRESS

What is it?
What helps it?
What makes it worse?
How to cope with it?
Stress occurs when:

EVENTS OF LIFE
OVERWHELM OUR
CAPACITY TO DEAL
WITH THEM
 IDENTIFY ITS PRESENCE
 PART OF DAILY LIFE
 COPING WITH PROBLEMS
 MENSTRUAL PERIOD
 CAN AFFECT THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
 NEED FOR SUPPORT
SOME SIGNS OF STRESS
 IRRITABILITY
 TENSION HEADACHES
 ALLERGY AND ASTHMA TRIGGER
 “BUTTERFLIES” IN YOUR STOMACH
 ACNE & OTHER SKIN RASHES
COPING WITH STRESS
 HAVE A SCHEDULE & FOLLOW IT
 INCLUDE TIME FOR PRAYER &
RELAXATION
 LEARN TO UNWIND
 EAT A HEALTHY, BALANCED DIET
 SMILE ALWAYS
 LEARN TO FORGIVE & FORGET
Otolaryngologists Tackle Post-COVID-19 Laryngeal Complications

 The Mount Sinai Health System

 physicians formed a COVID-19 Airway
Collaborative to research the effects of the
virus in upper airway complications
 To better address the needs of this patient
population
Symptoms
 difficulty breathing who had previously
been intubated due to COVID-19,
 as well as others who, despite
experiencing only mild symptoms from
the virus,
 report chronic cough,
 hoarseness, and
 difficulty swallowing.
7 Tips on how to keep your voice
 Warm Up- And Cool Down
 Hydrate
 Humidify room
 Take Vocal Naps
 Avoid harmful substances
 Don’t sing from your throat
 Don’t sing if it hurts or you feel sick or
tired
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle:
 Don't demand more of your voice
than you would the rest of your body.
 Don't use your voice extensively
when you are sick, or when you feel
tired.
 Don't use your voice when it feels
strained.
 “We find GOD in our
everyday life, in the
circumstances of
everyday, all
seemingly identical...
He is in our breakfast,
in our lunch and in
our dinner,
in our conversation,
in our tears and
in our smile,
moments of everyday
living: work, family,
and friendship.
That is where GOD is
waiting for us in
order to transform
the most ordinary
things in an
extraordinary
adventure.”