Vocal Hygiene
- Avoid shouting, screaming, cheering and excessive loud laughing.
- Cough, clear your throat or sneeze only when you must, and then do it gently and easily.
- Do not make strange noises with your voice, such as using reverse phonation, abrupt glottal attack or strained vocalization.
- Avoid talking in noisy places: around machinery, power lawn mowers, farm equipment, when listening to loud music or using a hair dryer.
- Avoid talking while using noisy transportation such as buses, trains, subways and riding in autos at high speed. Also, avoid talking when riding on snowmobiles, dune buggies, motorcycles and motorboats.
- Avoid talking when you have an upper respiratory infection such as a cold.
- You may be requested not to sing, act in plays or give speeches or oral reports.
- Talk when you wish but not too much. You may be asked to limit the amount of talking you do.
- Talk with adequate loudness, at the best vocal pitch for you and with good rate.
- Talk easily, initiate vocal tones smoothly and effortlessly. Hold your head straight when you talk. Do not strain the muscles of the face, throat, neck or shoulders as you talk.
- It may be recommended that, if possible, your home have filtered heating and air conditioning, and proper humidity. Avoid breathing through your mouth in very cold weather.
- Keep in good health. Exercise regularly, but not too vigorously or noisily. Do not smoke. Stay away from smoky or dusty places. See your physician regularly for general check-ups. If you are on regular medications, check to be sure that they have no effects on the throat, mouth and nose.
- You may be requested to avoid highly spiced foods and to substitute skim milk and ice milk for whole milk and ice cream.
- Sit in the center of the room so you can be heard easily without talking loudly. Speak only when others in the room are quiet.
- Please follow the guidelines in our brochure, Vocal Primer, Care of the Voice, which you will receive in our office
Please notify the office 256-3550 for any concerns. We are all here to help in any way we can.
Dr. John U. Coniglio and Staff
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