Your Voice’s Early Warning System

Are you a vocalist who simply tolerates pain, horse-ness and even voice loss? Dane Chalfin would like to challenge you…

It’s time for all singers to recognize that within their body there is an early warning system that can assist them to find positive ways forward for their voice.

Certainly voices get tired, but a tired voice is very different than a horse, painful or lost voice.

In this article, I am going to introduce you to five signals that call for an immediate response.

Just before we do that, we need to make sure you are putting your vocal effort in the right places.

Working Harder than You Need To?
If one’s technique is solid, then one should have no acute signs of trauma or loss – no matter how heavy one’s vocal “loading”.

It’s no secret that human beings like to work harder than they need to—this is especially true of rock and pop singers who may think that if they don’t feel a sensation of pushing or straining then they are not committing emotionally to the material they are singing.

The ‘pain’ sound’ is often the desired aesthetic—but should be produced painlessly!
Singers often misplace their efforts. 

Certainly, effort should be made in the postural muscles in the head, neck and torso and the CORE STABILITY muscles in the abdomen and lower back. 

The same is NOT true for the muscles around the larynx.

So, relaxation is not a cure for all voice problems; the idea that Stevie Wonder, Bono or Pavarati felt their high C in state of physical relaxation is ridiculous—just look at the videos and you will see there is postural stability work.

Now, let’s turn to the signals calling out for attention from every singer. 

1. Acute Pain.
It may sound silly and obvious to say acute pain is an early warning system, but a lot of singers who don’t know any better accept pain as an occupational hazard. 
The use of falsetto, belting or hard rock styles should not cause any sensation of acute or local pain. 
The sensation of pressing, CONSTRICTION or scratching on your vocal folds makes you want to cough. 
This is an immediate warning that the sound you’re making is not being produced efficiently. 

2. Horse-ness or huskiness in either singing or speaking voice.
Very often singers find their voice feels horse especially after a gig or recording session. 
No matter what sound you are making, you should be able to make those sounds effectively without traumatizing the vocal folds.
If you do feel horse or husky after singing,  that is an indication that you have caused some trauma to the vocal folds.
Here’s the essential theory: the top layer of your VOCAL FOLDS is called the epithelium. IT’S A HIGHLY SPECIALISED SKIN –it’s only four cells deep.
You can just imagine how easy it is to disrupt that thin layer.
When we feel horse or husky that is a sign that we have caused some kind of disruption to that layer; it becomes inflamed.  
Very often we simply ask a singer to reduce the effort of feeling in the larynx without changing the tone they are making; this results in immediate and positive change. 

3. Morning Voice. 
The vocal apparatus is always a bit stiff in the morning; however, watch out for signs of severe morning voice: your upper range is gone, it takes you considerable time to warm up and full range only comes back later in the day.
If this is your experience, you may be experiencing acid reflux; other warning signs for reflux include (but are not always present) waking up with a bitter taste in the mouth, raw or irritated sensation around the larynx, back of the throat, heartburn.
Reflux is often called the “Silent Killer”, though it is relatively straightforward to treat.
During the sleeping hours acid that forms in the stomach SOMETIMES creeps up and baths the vocal folds. 
In order to confirm if you are suffering from reflux, you need to have laryngeal imaging; ensure that you do this before taking anti-reflux medication.
There are also many lifestyle changes INCLUDING DIET, EATING TIME, AND HYDRATION that one can make to reduce reflux; information on this is widely available on the internet.
But do not think that lozenges, sprays and teas will help with reflux or horse-ness. None of these has accepted research attached to them; they contain natural or manufactured anaesthetics  which actually mask your body’s early warning system.

THE ONLY MEDICALLY ACCEPTED FORM OF TOPICAL RELIEF FOR DRY OR SWOLLEN VOCAL CORDS IS STEAM INHALATION.

4. Losing Your Sound.
The technical name for this is: intermittent aphonia (literally, “without sound”)
If you make an effort to produce a note and you get a second of sound without a noise, this is a 100 percent guarantee that the vocal folds are not happy. 
The more extreme version of intermittent aphonia would be a complete loss of a part of the range—usually the upper range. 

If your high notes stop working, you are in trouble; we then know the vocal folds are inflamed and swollen.  THERE MAY ALSO BE SEVERE CONSTRICTION IN THE MUSCLES ABOVE THE VOCAL FOLDS.

It could be an indication of more sinister injuring like vocal fold hemorrhages, POLYPS OR NODULES.
If you continue without healthy changes, you could face our last sign:

5. Complete Voice Loss.
Voice loss is not always abuse related; people have reported complete voice loss due to viruses or psychological disorders with voice loss as a symptom. 
If there is a sudden loss of voice, this warrants an immediate investigation. 
The standard accepted guidelines of accepted vocal behavior is that if your voice is behaving abnormally for 2 weeks, then you require a check-up with a laryngologist (this is an ear nose and throat surgeon who specializes in the larynx and voice). 

Your Voice Can Bounce Back
By paying attention to the signs above and receiving appropriate treatment, you may be surprised at how quickly you can return to vocal health.

I was recently called into a recording studio because a lead singer was struggling during the recording session. He manifested several of the signs above, but was trying to ignore them; scoping revealed significant evidence of vocal abuse and reflux.

We spent six weeks on technique and lifestyle changes and engaged in some anti reflux measures  - they were playing Wembley stadium 6 weeks later. THOUGH THE SINGER’S LARYNX DIDN’T MAKE A FULL RECOVERY IN MEDICAL TERMS, HE WAS ABLE TO PLAY THE SERIES OF CAREER-CHANGING GIGS WITHOUT TROUBLE.

Don’t wait for a New Year’s resolution, make vocal health your priority today. 
It begins by keenly watching for the early-warning signs.

Dane Chalfin is a Director of the British Voice Association, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Voice Technique, and one of the UK’s leading professional voice consultants.  HE IS ALSO ONE OF THE FEW OFFICIAL SINGING REHABILITATION CONSULTANTS FOR THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE.  His clients include signed recording artists, west end and touring actors, TV, film and radio actors, comedians, soap-stars, universities, TV and radio presenters, worship ministries, recording studios, management and production companies, business people, hospitals, and voice-users requiring therapy and rehabilitation.

Dane Chalfin & Associates  - http://danechalfin.co.uk/

The 21^ST Century Singer – http://21stcenturysinger.co.uk

The British Voice Association – http://www.british-voice-association.com/