Teachers: Save That Voice

Teachers, singers and actors (and maybe politicians) could be considered professional voice users. Teaching can provide a lot of stress on the voice. Teachers often work in settings with poor acoustics and talk for hours during the day. One estimate is that 11% of teachers currently have vocal hoarseness. Excessive stress on the voice can cause medical problems such as vocal nodules and interfere with daily activities. There are a number of ways teachers can help protect their voices.
1) Be more aware of how you use your voice.
2) Drink enough water to stay well hydrated.
3) Use sound systems and amplification when possible.
4) Avoid screaming or shouting over noise.
5) If the hoarseness is due to a virus or other infection, a day or two of rest may avoid longer lasting hoarseness.