VOCAL HYGIENE 

1.      Identify vocal misuse and abuse e.g. shouting, yelling, throat clearing.

2.      Reduce/eliminate identified misuse and abuse.  Use substitute activities or noises e.g. wave your hand, use a whistle.

3.      Cough, clear your throat or sneeze only when you must and then do it gently and easily.

4.      Develop an easy glottal attack.  Talk easily, initiate voice smoothly and effortlessly.

5.      Keep your ‘talking muscles’ of the face, throat, neck and shoulders relaxed as you speak.

6.      Take an easy, relaxed breath when speaking.  Ensure that you have an adequate breath supply as you talk.

7.      Use a comfortable speaking level.  Avoid singing at extreme voice levels.

8.      Keep your speaking voice at the lower end of your loudness range.  Sit in the centre of a room or in the middle of a group so that you can be heard easily without talking loudly.  Speak only when others around you are quiet.

9.      Reduce vocal demand when you have a cold, flu or laryngitis.

10.  Avoid mouth breathing in cold weather.

11.  While listening keep your teeth separated with a slight lip opening.

12.  Avoid talking in loud settings, e.g. cars, discos, noisy machinery.

13.  Avoid smoking and excessive use of alcohol.

14.  Reduce amount of highly spiced foods, very hot food and drinks and dairy products in your diet.

15.  Avoid making odd sounds with your voice.

16.  Avoid throat lozenges.  Suck a boiled sweet/chew gum instead.

17 Remember to drink plenty.   Humidify rooms – dishes of water, plants or flowers.