Singer,
Actor and other Voice Professional Voice Problems
Singers,
actors and other voice
professionals require
special care of their voices. Every singer and actor has a unique vocal signature
that he or she must maintain despite injury or sickness.
The
Voice & Swallowing Center offers comprehensive but conservative management
of voice disorders of the singer and actor. Like other professionals, singers
and actors may injure their voice from time to time due to excessive use, new
repertoire or performance in less than ideal surroundings. The performer should
seek early care to avoid problems.
The voice professional should follow
a few simple rules in order to keep the voice healthy:
-
Warm up before singing or performing.
-
Don't perform when sick
- Know
your role well
- Rest before
and after performances
- Know
when to stop talking or singing
-
Get help sooner than later
-
Beware of performance enhancers (drugs and alternative medicines)
-
Get help sooner than later
Injuries
to the voice can occur at any time. Upper respiratory infections (URI) and common
colds are two problems that affect the way a performer may develop voice problems.
Singing or speaking with poor acoustics or in unhealthy environments may also
lead to injuries.
Two kinds of injuries often seen in the Voice &
Swallowing Center are vocal fold edema
(swelling of the vocal folds) and vocal
fold hemorrhages. Both require conservative treatment. Reduced voice
use, medications to treat the upper respiratory infection and rest usually restore
the voice to its normal use. Continued singing or performing once a problem is
noted may lead to serious injuries that threaten a career.
Some singers
and performers are concerned that they developed a voice problem because they
are using their voice incorrectly and therefore may not be truly professional.
This philosophy is not correct and may lead to avoidance of treatment. Vocal performers
should be considered to have long careers and like other professional athletes
may develop problems from time to time that restrict their performance.
Successful care and treatment of the professional is now available. Performers
should take advantage of the high level of voice care available at the Voice &
Swallowing Center in order to preserve their careers and enhance their level of
performance.
Singer,
Actor and other Voice Professional Voice Problems 
