Fueling the rumors?

Like the title says, I need to know if there's a way to actually strengthen my vocal cords and how to go about it. My job basically requires me to talk constantly for hours on end, and I always end up losing my voice, plus this hoarseness drags on for weeks. Is there a way to dodge this entirely, or can I actually build up some vocal stamina?

gentletrucker15 said:Like the title says, I'm wondering if there's any way to strengthen my vocal cords? My job involves talking a ton for long stretches, and I constantly lose my voice—the hoarseness sticks around for weeks. Is there a way to prevent this or actually build up vocal strength?

Seriously, go see a speech therapist who specializes in voice disorders. You might even need to check in with an ENT just in case you've developed vocal nodules or something from straining too hard. Basically, they'll give you a whole toolkit of exercises and tips on vocal hygiene. Honestly, pro singers deal with these exact same issues all the time! If you don't want to see a specialist, the one thing you *can* control is staying hydrated while you're working—you gotta keep those vocal cords from drying out. Also, quit smoking if you do, and stop shouting! And hey, when you're already hoarse, DO NOT WHISPER, because that actually makes things worse... But honestly? A speech therapist is your best bet. It’s possible your speaking mechanics are just off, which could lead to something like hyperkinetic dysphonia.

Megan Smith2 said:Look, just go see a speech pathologist who actually specializes in voice disorders. You might even need an ENT if you've messed up your voice so bad you developed vocal nodules or something along those lines. Basically, they'll give you a ton of exercises and tips on how to take care of your voice. Honestly, professional singers deal with these exact issues all the time. If you aren't seeing a pro, the only thing you can really control is staying hydrated when you're talking for long stretches so your vocal cords don't dry out, quitting smoking if you do, and not shouting. Also, if you're hoarse, DO NOT WHISPER because that doesn't actually save your voice... but in my opinion, a speech pathologist is your best bet since you might have some faulty mechanics causing hyperkinetic dysphonia.

Thanks a lot for the reply. I'm definitely gonna take that advice to heart!

gentletrucker15 said:Like the title says, I’m wondering if there's any way to strengthen my vocal cords? My job involves constant, heavy speaking, and I often lose my voice entirely. The hoarseness lasts for weeks. Is there a way to prevent this or actually build up vocal strength?...

I'm dealing with the exact same thing... I'm actually starting some vocal therapy sessions at the Mayo Clinic in a few days.

I'll let you know how it goes 😁

And just like Megan Smith2 said, whatever you do, don't whisper! It's better to just stay quiet for a couple of days if you can, because whispering puts even more strain on your vocal cords than talking does 😉

Grace Lewis6 said:we're on the exact same page... I'm heading in for some vocal therapy sessions at the ENT clinic over at Mayo Clinic in just a few days.

I'll let you know how it goes 😁

and like Megan Smith2 said, stop whispering! Seriously, just stay quiet for a couple of days if you can, because whispering actually puts way more strain on your vocal cords than just talking normally.😉

That sounds great, definitely hit me up with your thoughts once you're done. Also, shoot me a DM and tell me how you even got started with this—do I need my primary care doctor to write a referral, or is there some other way to get in?

How are you actually dealing with the hoarseness? Besides the calcium, lozenges, and... the silence, which is pretty much impossible for me 🙂

gentletrucker15 said:That sounds great, definitely let me know how it goes. Also, could you DM me and tell me how you actually got started? I'm wondering if I need a referral from my primary care doctor or if there's a different way to set it all up...

How do you deal with hoarseness? Besides calcium, lozenges, and... staying quiet, which isn't really my style 🙂

You mean, how I managed to get into it 😁?

Well, when I saw the ENT specialist at the Mayo Clinic, I asked if I’d be a good candidate for voice therapy since my voice is basically my livelihood, and they said yes!
I went straight from there to see a speech pathologist for some vocal testing, and she scheduled me for 20 sessions (just needed one referral from my GP)

So, that's the whole thing!

I just had my first session today, so I don't have much to report yet, but we spent some time working on diaphragm breathing...

Sorry for digging up this old thread... but honestly, it feels better to post here than to start a whole new one, right?

Anyway,
I've got surgery scheduled to get these vocal nodules removed—it's on my vocal cords—and they told me I'll have to deal with about a week of total silence before I can even start voice therapy.
I haven't really dug into the specifics of what the recovery actually looks like or when my voice will finally feel "normal" again (I know everyone's different, obviously...), but I'm mostly wondering when I can realistically get back to work. My job is super voice-heavy, so that's the big question.

If anyone here has gone through this, please, please share your experience!

I’m guessing I’ll be out on medical leave for at least two weeks (maybe a few days in the hospital followed by the silence period), but then what? The tricky part is I need to give my boss a heads-up on how long I won't be able to speak properly, but it feels like I won't even know for sure until I start those exercises, you know? :/ 😢

Thanks so much for any help!

Anyone out there? 😢

analogwolf44 said:Anyone? 😢

I was just checking out a flyer over at Savannah yesterday regarding those dysphonia speech exercises and learning how to use a passy-muir valve. It mentioned that you usually need somewhere between 10 and 20 hours of work to get it down.
The big question is, do you have to grind through all of that first, or can you actually balance therapy sessions while working? I'm not entirely sure, but my guess is there might be a waiting list before you even get in for treatment.

In my opinion, you should be able to head back to work after the period of silence, but you absolutely need to push for as much vocal rest as possible.

Thanks so much for the reply!!

So, therapy kicks off just ten days after the surgery, and since I work retail—where you basically can't stop talking—there’s no way I can pull a shift.

My doctor told me to just plan on being out of commission for about a month straight.

And then? Well, it all just depends on how things go with my rehab exercises... 😢