Teachers Voice

Speech & Language Therapist Margaret Rodden offers some professional advice on how to look after your vocal cords

t's that time of year again when teachers are getting back in the swing of the new school year. For many there is the added concern of how their voices will cope with the demands of the teaching year. As a group, teachers are considered at risk of developing voice problems due to the excessive demands on their voices within the school environment.

Reasons for problems - Teachers are at risk of developing voice problems for a number of reasons:

• High demands on the voice over long periods of time;
• Raising the voice against general background/classroom noise;
• Curriculum demands on voice e.g. teaching phonics, singing etc;
• Extra-curricular duties such as playground supervision, choir, meetings etc.

Certain speech habits - shouting without using technique, throat clearing - can also put extra strain on the voice. Voice problems can be caused, and further exacerbated, by stress and anxiety. Chalk dust and dehydration are other 'occupational hazards' that strain teachers voices. For many teachers the voice can be tired and this tiredness can go from a feeling of a lack of ease in speaking to acute discomfort when speaking. Others may experience more recognisable voice problems such as hoarseness, inability to reach the higher notes in singing etc.

General guidelines:

Regardless of what symptoms you experience, there are some general guidelines which will help all teachers maintain a healthy voice:

• Cut down on throat clearing and harsh coughing, if you have to do either - do it gently. A hard swallow drink of water will help.
• Be aware of hydration; excessive dryness is hard on the voice. Drink lots of water throughout the day and cold water before going to bed. Drink iced water after a lot of talking or singing. Avoid caffeine beverages such as tea, coffee, cokes.
• Ensure you have a good technique i.e. develop good voice projection. If you have to use a loud voice the belting technique can be taught (this technique, used by actors, singers and professional voice users, enables one to produce strong volume and projection by using the whole body to power the voice, rather than forcing and straining the vocal cords alone).
• Rest your voice if you have a bout of laryngitis - alking while suffering from laryngitis can cause long-term voice problems. With regard to colds and flu, be cautious with medications - if they dry up your cold, they will also dry up your vocal cords.
• Speaking over loud noises e.g. classroom noise, music, etc. for a long period can cause vocal fatigue, sore throat or hoarseness. Try to reduce background noise during conversation i.e. reduce the distance between you and children so that you can be heard without raising the voice unduly.
• Smoking and excessive use of alcohol both have a drying effect on the vocal chord. Air conditioning, central heating and gas fires also remove humidity from the air.
• Reduce the demands on your voice, don't do all the talking.
• If you sing, you should be aware that singing beyond your comfortable pitch and loudness level can irritate the vocal cords.

Susceptibility factor - While not all teachers will experience diffi culty with their voices, there is a defi nite susceptibility factor. Teachers who experience diffi culty with their voice are best managed by an ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) Consultant and a Speech & Language Therapist. The ENT Consultant is responsible for the initial examination of the throat and voicebox while the Speech & Language Therapist evaluates the voice and plans a programme of therapy. Any teacher who is hoarse for more than two weeks should have an assessment of the larynx.

By taking a few proactive steps and observing the vocal hygiene rules, teachers can maintain healthy voices. Your voice is the tool of your trade, take care!