1

Vocal health andVocal health andhygiene study questionshygiene study questions

John NixJohn NixAssociate Professor of Voice andAssociate Professor of Voice and

Voice PedagogyVoice PedagogyUniversity of Texas at San AntonioUniversity of Texas at San Antonio

Name the disorder whose symptomsName the disorder whose symptomsinclude (a) breathy mid voice, (b)include (a) breathy mid voice, (b)

cracking on high notes, (c)cracking on high notes, (c)hoarseness, (d) lack of endurancehoarseness, (d) lack of enduranceand intensity, and (e) an inability toand intensity, and (e) an inability to

sing softly.sing softly.

NodulesNodules

2

The other name forThe other name forcontact ulcers of thecontact ulcers of thearytenoids cartilages.arytenoids cartilages.

GranulomaGranuloma

This condition can be broughtThis condition can be broughtabout by singing with too muchabout by singing with too much

intensity in the middle voice,intensity in the middle voice,especially in femalesespecially in females..

NodulesNodules

3

This disorderThis disorder’’s symptoms includes symptoms includehoarseness, a breathy sound, and ahoarseness, a breathy sound, and a

sensation of needing to clear thesensation of needing to clear thethroat. This disorder is the result of athroat. This disorder is the result of a

vocal fold hemorrhage.vocal fold hemorrhage.

PolypPolyp

The treatment for the vast majority ofThe treatment for the vast majority ofvocal nodules includes a carefullyvocal nodules includes a carefully

monitored programmonitored programof_____________.of_____________.

Voice therapyVoice therapy

4

This disorder is frequentlyThis disorder is frequentlycaused by a single traumaticcaused by a single traumatic

event, like yelling at a ball gameevent, like yelling at a ball gameor severe coughingor severe coughing..

PolypPolyp

Often called corns of the folds,Often called corns of the folds,these thick bumps prevent thethese thick bumps prevent the

folds from closing completely orfolds from closing completely orstretching efficientlystretching efficiently..

NodulesNodules

5

This condition isThis condition issometimes caused bysometimes caused byacid reflux or surgicalacid reflux or surgical

intubationintubation..GranulomaGranuloma

This disorder is frequentlyThis disorder is frequentlycaused by singing with too highcaused by singing with too highan air pressure and too manyan air pressure and too many

glottal onsets.glottal onsets.

NodulesNodules

6

This disorder is characterized by vocalThis disorder is characterized by vocalfatigue, painful phonation, and persistentfatigue, painful phonation, and persistent

reoccurrence of symptoms, even afterreoccurrence of symptoms, even afterrest. Primarily caused by an overly lowrest. Primarily caused by an overly lowpitched speaking voice and too manypitched speaking voice and too many

glottal onsets.glottal onsets.

GranulomaGranuloma

Over-function of this gland lowersOver-function of this gland lowersthe pitch of the voice andthe pitch of the voice andcoarsens the quality of thecoarsens the quality of the

sound.sound.

Thyroid GlandThyroid Gland

7

Symptoms of this hormonal changeSymptoms of this hormonal changeinclude vocal fatigue, hoarseness,include vocal fatigue, hoarseness,

loss of range, vocal fold swelling andloss of range, vocal fold swelling andbreathiness.breathiness.

MenstruationMenstruation

This hormone, and other like it, canThis hormone, and other like it, cancause permanent changes in acause permanent changes in a

womanwoman’’s vocal folds s vocal folds –– thickening and thickening andstiffening connective tissues, alteringstiffening connective tissues, altering

range downward.range downward.

TestosteroneTestosterone

8

One early symptom ofOne early symptom ofthis disorder is a loweredthis disorder is a loweredbasal body temperature.basal body temperature.

HypothyroidismHypothyroidism

Elevating the head and shoulders, eatingElevating the head and shoulders, eatingseveral hours before bedtime or singing,several hours before bedtime or singing,avoiding caffeine, acidic foods, milk/dairyavoiding caffeine, acidic foods, milk/dairy

products and alcohol, are all tips forproducts and alcohol, are all tips foravoiding what potentially voiceavoiding what potentially voice

threatening condition?threatening condition?

Gastro-esophageal refluxGastro-esophageal reflux

9

This surgical procedureThis surgical procedureinvolves placing a flexibleinvolves placing a flexibletube between the vocaltube between the vocalfolds into the trachea.folds into the trachea.

EndotrachealEndotracheal IntubationIntubation

Washing your hands frequentlyWashing your hands frequentlywith hot soapy water and keepingwith hot soapy water and keeping

them away from your mouth,them away from your mouth,nose and eyes are the best waynose and eyes are the best way

to avoid what?to avoid what?

A coldA cold

10

The best thing to doThe best thing to dowhen you have an upperwhen you have an upper

respiratory infection.respiratory infection.Rest and drink lots of waterRest and drink lots of water

This condition is generallyThis condition is generallycaused by bacteria and iscaused by bacteria and is

marked by swollen or inflamedmarked by swollen or inflamedtonsils and lymph glands of thetonsils and lymph glands of the

neck.neck.

TonsilitisTonsilitis

11

This condition (viral or bacterial) isThis condition (viral or bacterial) ismarked by red, swollen vocal folds,marked by red, swollen vocal folds,and a weak, husky or non-existentand a weak, husky or non-existent

speaking voice.speaking voice.

LaryngitisLaryngitis

Fatigue of the vocal folds, intrinsicFatigue of the vocal folds, intrinsicmuscles, respiratory muscles andmuscles, respiratory muscles andthickened mucus are some of thethickened mucus are some of the

results of this.results of this.

Vocal overuseVocal overuse

12

Varied dynamics, speak-singing,Varied dynamics, speak-singing,avoiding extreme notes (low andavoiding extreme notes (low and

high) are all techniques for this typehigh) are all techniques for this typeof rehearsing.of rehearsing.

MarkingMarking

A consistent program of testingA consistent program of testingvoices on an individual basis isvoices on an individual basis is

essential to maintaining a healthyessential to maintaining a healthychoral program with young singers.choral program with young singers.

This is in order to avoid whatThis is in order to avoid whatproblem?problem?

Assignment to the wrongAssignment to the wrongtessitura parttessitura part

13

This is the single most important trait ofThis is the single most important trait ofyoung voices (junior high through collegeyoung voices (junior high through college

undergrad) to remember when trainingundergrad) to remember when trainingthem.them.

Limited EnduranceLimited Endurance

Good technique plus this factorGood technique plus this factorcan be as destructive to thecan be as destructive to thelaryngeal muscles as poorlaryngeal muscles as poor

technique.technique.

Singing at an excessiveSinging at an excessivevolumevolume

14

List three primary vocalList three primary vocaltissue irritants in society.tissue irritants in society.

DustDustDry airDry air

PollutionPollution

List three drawbacks ofList three drawbacks ofair travel for singers.air travel for singers.

Very dry air in the planeVery dry air in the planeNoisy environmentNoisy environmentTime zone changesTime zone changes

15

What are two simpleWhat are two simplethings you can do tothings you can do to

maintain goodmaintain goodhydration?hydration?

Drink lots of waterDrink lots of waterSleep with a humidifierSleep with a humidifier

What type of rest isWhat type of rest isnecessary immediatelynecessary immediatelyafter a performance?after a performance?

VOCAL RESTVOCAL REST(so watch out about going to(so watch out about going toa noisy party or restaurant)a noisy party or restaurant)

16

Name three sure-fireName three sure-firecures for stage fright.cures for stage fright.

Reliable techniqueReliable techniqueCareful preparationCareful preparation

Good physical conditioningGood physical conditioning