Take care of your voice!

Pointing out the importance of protecting vocal health and using the voice correctly, Speech and Language Therapist Göksu Yılmaz shared important information about what we should pay attention to in order to protect vocal health...

Saying that voice is one of the most important tools that allow individuals to express themselves, Yılmaz stated that when the mechanism of voice production is examined in general, the main source of voice production is the airflow coming from the lungs, and said: "The air during exhalation moves upwards through the trachea and reaches the larynx region. This airflow creates the basic energy that allows the vocal folds to vibrate. The vocal folds located in the larynx vibrate with the airflow and create the fundamental frequency of the voice. The raw sound coming out of the vocal folds resonates in the throat, mouth and nasal cavities, is shaped and takes its final form that we hear."

WARNING TO TEACHERS AND ARTISTS

Regarding professional voice users, namely singers, theater artists, teachers, lawyers, instructors, telephone/call center workers, religious officials, health workers, language and speech therapists, Yilmaz said: "In this context, considering that most of the workers in the service sector are professional voice users, deteriorations and reductions in vocal performance not only contribute to the deterioration of the subjective perception of the voice, but can also limit the professional working lives of individuals."

WOMEN'S VOICE FOLDS ARE MORE IN TOUCH

Sound Drawing attention to the fact that the vocal folds come into contact with each other more in women than in men, Yilmaz explained this as follows: "During the production of sound, the vocal folds come into contact with each other an average of 200-250 times per second in women and 100-150 times in men. This contact occurs as a result of the opening and closing cycle of the vocal folds. To explain with a more concrete example, clapping 200-250 times per second for women and 100-150 times per second for men can help us understand the load on the vocal folds."

DRINK WATER EVERY 30 MINUTES

Yilmaz made the following suggestions regarding what to pay attention to for vocal health:

Speaking loudly for a long time in noisy environments (in the classroom, on noisy streets) negatively affects the voice.

Singing, forced whispering, frequent throat clearing habits, and screaming trigger voice disorders. Never smoke tobacco or tobacco products.

Avoid foods and drinks that will trigger reflux. To protect the vocal folds, all eating and drinking activities, except water, should be stopped at least 2-3 hours before bedtime.

It is necessary to maintain adequate fluid intake to ensure systemic hydration of the vocal folds. For this, it is recommended to drink 8-10 glasses of water per day, sipping or drinking water every 30 minutes. It also triggers posture disorders and the extra muscle tension that may occur as a result.