How to Improve Your Voice Quality with Good Vocal Hygiene

Does your voice need a bit of TLC? If you’ve been talking, shouting, or singing a lot lately you might have noticed your voice becoming strained – or even losing your voice by the end of the day. These problems can continue to get worse if you don’t take the time to implement good vocal hygiene strategies. 

While we would always recommend seeking the support of a Speech Pathologist for any sudden voice changes, we do have some tips you can start putting into practice today to improve your voice quality.  

How to Improve Your Voice Quality with Good Vocal Hygiene 

Step 1: Stay Hydrated 

While this advice might sound simple, being hydrated makes a big difference to your voice quality. If you are the kind of person who goes hours without drinking water, or find yourself at the end of the day feeling parched, this is a great place to start on your mission to improving your vocal quality. Dehydration over time can lead to vocal fold injury and cause changes in your vocal quality. Each day, you should be aiming to drink around 8-10 glasses of water. If you find you are forgetting to do this, it can be helpful to set alarms throughout the day to remind you to drink some water. Some smart watches can help you keep track of this too.  

If you spend a lot of your time in airconditioned spaces, this can also dry out your vocal folds, reducing your vocal quality. You may benefit from using a humidifier or water spray to moisten the air if you are working in a centrally heated office or spending long periods of time in air-conditioning. 

Step 2: Rest Your Voice When Possible 

If you are noticing you are losing your voice frequently, it might be time to give your voice some much-needed rest! Try to avoid using your voice when it is not absolutely critical – could that conversation be an email?  

If you have to use your voice for work, you can improve your vocal hygiene by warming up your voice in the morning and “cooling it down” at the end of the day. To warm up, relax your shoulders and neck and do some gentle humming. Some people find humming a song like happy birthday or another memorable tune easier to get in the flow of this daily practice. To cool down at the end of the day, put a straw in some water and gently blow bubbles to reduce tension.  

Step 3: Use Supports Where Needed 

If you have to talk as part of your job to large groups of people (like as a teacher or university lecturer) it is worth using a microphone where you can. If you aren’t using a microphone, you may find that you push yourself to talk louder and louder to be heard above background noise or just to be heard in a large room. By using a microphone to increase your speaking volume rather than straining your voice you will likely notice improvements in your voice quality over time.  

What to Do When Voice Quality Doesn’t Improve 

If you don’t notice any changes after putting in measures to improve your voice quality, it is worth seeking the support of a Speech Pathologist. 

 Speech Therapy can help you understand how your voice works, how to protect it, and how to use it efficiently, so your voice works with you, not against you.  

Speech Pathologists are trained professionals who assess (as part of a team) and treat voice problems. This may include: 

· Assessment – examining how your voice sounds and functions. This may be a perceptual, acoustic or instrumental assessment. It may require ENT and/or Respiratory assessment alongside speech. 

· Education – understanding how your voice works and what affects it 

· Technique training – learning how to speak with less strain and more efficiency 

· Voice exercises – improving strength, stamina, and flexibility 

· Lifestyle support – managing reflux, stress, and hydration habits 

If required, your therapist may also liaise with an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist for medical input.