Voice Work - Latest

Voice Care Tips Series

When to Seek Medical Care for Voice

20th May 2024 (update)

Please read this one!

Many people understand how sounding good can help with many aspects of life, and my work helps you to do this. Another key aspect of my work is to teach people how to look after their voices so that they can continue to sound good and keep their voices healthy and strong. They also know when they need to seek medical support for their voice. Follow these voice tips I will be sharing over all the newsletters to get more information on what you can do to take good care of your voice - and firstly - the most important one....

Hoarseness is not part of ANY job.

Listen to your body and visit your GP if you have any concerns about your voice at all, especially if you are using your voice frequently within your job. Hoarseness is not part of ANY job. If you have had issues or discomfort in your voice lasting for more than 2 weeks, including after a cough or cold, seek medical advice.

Some examples of voice changes can include things such as:

Are you feeling exhausted, flustered, anxious or any other discombobulated feelings?

In support of World Mental Health Day - 10th October 2020

Stop what you are doing.

Just stand.

Take a good breath in…and out.

Just stand.

Feel the ground beneath your feet.

Wiggle your toes.

Feel all four corners of your feet – big toe, little toe and the back edges of your heels – firmly planted, firmly rooted, into the ground.

Getting My Priorities Straight - Headset with microphone!

4th May 2020

Voice Tip Series - The Lombard Effect

Getting my priorities straight! Headset with a microphone a must!!!

On the day of lockdown, I had to move into temporary accommodation. I currently don't have any warmer weather work clothes, but I did make sure I had my priorities sorted - workbooks and...a headset with a microphone!

A headset and microphone are one of your most important tools for those working on video and 'phone calls for much of the day. One of the most essential voice tips for the moment. If you can use a headset with a microphone (preferably two earpieces - this was all I could find as everything was sold out) on many of your calls, it really will help save your voice!

As many of us are working from home with others around, with more noise happening in the background, or dealing with the internet cutting in and out, we have an involuntary reflex in which we raise our vocal effort to enhance the audibility of our voice.

This is called the Lombard Effect.

Cold, Flu and Sore Throat Season - How to Help Reduce Or Eliminate

4th October 2019

Voice Tip Series/Blog - 6

Cold, flu and sore throat season is fast approaching again. Try to eliminate them by treating them AS SOON AS you feel a tickle at the back of your throat. If you miss this part, you may still be able to reduce the length of them.

Get a decent nights sleep or several! I know for some this is easier said than done, so try shifting your priorities where you can. The more rest and good quality rest you can get whilst you are fighting off any bugs, the better. You need your energy to let your body fight off the bugs in your system.

If You Want A Healthy Voice - Don't Smoke

25th September 2019

Voice Tip Series/Blog - 5

If you want a healthy voice, don't smoke. Or seriously reduce your habit.

There is lots of help available if you want to give up. Your local pharmacy is a great place to start.

There are lots of health reasons to not smoke and these are covered in a multitude of places, so here is just a little bit of information on what happens to your voice if you smoke.

Your Voice Is Closely Linked To Emotion

13th September 2019

Voice Tip Series/Blog - 3

Have you ever tried hiding sadness over the telephone, only to have a good friend immediately ask 'What's wrong?'.

Our emotions give us away most of the time. Face-to-face, our good friends are likely to tell that we are upset, but we may be able to hide it more in other face-to-face interactions. Our emotions affect the way that we move, sit, stand, walk, talk and in the way we communicate with others. Our muscles tighten or release in response to the various chemicals entering or leaving our bodies and the tension, or released sounds, are also apparent in our voice.