Occupational Voice User Research, #strobelove, SOVTE research, and PYV!

Occupational Voice User Research...

 Do you use your VOICE for your job?! If yes, then YOU are an OCCUPATIONAL VOICE USER!! If you use your voice within your work and/or professional setting (especially for long durations, at louder volumes, and/or for athletically or vocally dynamic tasks), then you are likely more prone to vocal injury than another less vocally “loaded” person. You also are a PERFECT candidate to learn all you can about your vocal instrument and PRIORITIZE it throughout the day, everyday.

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The Brisson et al. study mentioned above analyzed a survey that was given to ~808 occupational voice users, focused on those involved in TEACHING and/or TRAINING. The survey revealed that MOST (94.6%) had NEVER received information regarding voice disorders during their academic training, and less than half of them (47.7%) knew which professionals can treat voice disorders. (Hi!!!). Additionally, “68.8% of the respondents in a survey experienced at least one vocal symptom regularly, and up to 36% experienced three or more symptoms regularly— this suggests that occupational voice users are at a higher risk of voice disorders, despite their low consultation rate”. Sounds quite familiar to the results of my first research study on fitness instructors (see link in bio)!

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Additionally, “90% of the respondents, never received vocal training or vocal health education, which supports previous findings from other research studies conducted in seven countries across three continents, showing that occupational voice users are usually not knowledgeable about voice disorders and vocal care”. A 2012 study (vanHoutte et al.) found that “72.1% of teachers had never received information about vocal care during their training”. It is likely that this finding related to teachers could also ring true for other similar occupational voice users (coaches, fitness instructors, professors, public speakers, etc.). One of the most documented ways to prevent voice disorders in populations such as these is the use of a personal voice amplification system/microphone; less than 10% of the respondents in the Brisson et al. study reported that their employer provided measures such as voice amplification, room soundproofing, etc.. I hear all of the time about heavy voice users relying only on their own anatomical instrument, and not personal amplification, even related to HOURS of projection and/or yelling (often required for coaching, instruction, preaching, or giving lectures). WHY sacrifice your voice while pursuing your PASSION, when you could ensure better (and guaranteed) amplification (without effort required)? Did you know there are effective voice amplifiers available for as little as thirty bucks?!#worthit . 

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This study also overtly identified that “occupational voice users and their employers do not have sufficient knowledge about voice disorders and prevention strategies for voice disorders” AND that there is a clear “need for formal vocal health education in occupational voice users and their employers”. INCREASING AWARENESS AND VOICE TRAINING IN THESE (and ALL occupational voice user) POPULATIONS IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. We know this, but it should become even more obvious when research proves it time and time again.

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But it IS my passion, so please reach out if you want to amplify your understanding of that beautiful instrument that you have in your throat.

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#voxfit #voice #prioritizeyourvoice #vocalhealth #vocalwellness #vocalefficiency #vocaldynamics #speechpathologist #voicespecialist #fitnessinstructor #research #microphone #personalamplification #teacher #trainer #voicetherapy #prioritizeyourhealth #vocalinstrument #occupationalvoiceuser #voicesfittoinspire #chooseyourbestvoice #letsgo

FLICKER WARNING (#strobelove)...

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO ABOVE!!!

“Flicker warning”….he he he.  YEPPP. That IS quite the point.
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Love me some strobe light.
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“When a strobe light is used to evaluate dynamic aspects of vocal fold vibration, the procedure is called a laryngeal videostroboscopy” (Patel et al., 2018; Stachler et al., 2018; Hirano&Bless, 1993).
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Cohen et al. (2015) found that 47.9% (pretty much HALF) of diagnoses were altered after videostroboscopy, where the first exam was laryngoscopy”…
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Consider laryngeal imaging, a.k.a. a scope/ideally a STROBE (!!!) at least once a year to serve as essentially a "PHYSICAL FOR YOUR VOICE".  Especially if it is your instrument (as an occupational and/or professional voice user!!), it is really important to routinely visualize the anatomy, but also commit to this if/when you notice changes in the voice, (especially that last longer than two weeks).
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Just your friendly reminder to PRIORITIZE YOUR VOICE today and everyday!!!! Happy #prioritizeyourvoicefriday !! Do you have a plan for how to make this MISSION a reality in your daily life?

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#voxfit #voice #prioritizeyourvoice #pyv #videostroboscopy #healthyvoice #vocalhealth #vocalwellness #vocalefficiency #vocaldynamics #speechpathologist #voicespecialist #fitnessinstructor #strobe #laryngealimaging #prioritizeyourhealth #vocalinstrument #occupationalvoiceuser #larynxlove #flickerwarning #letsgo #baselinescope #vocalphysical

Anddd of course, always REMEMBER to PRIORITIZE YOUR VOICE! ... 

SOVTEs are a top-notch research based TOOL for you to use... check out some awesome research I recently found that continues to deepen my passion for educating others on the importance of their use!!

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See my previous posts and videos on the lovely possibilities of SOVTEs, but a FEW common examples include: humming, lip trills, tongue trills, tongue out trills, voiced fricatives, use of a variably occluded face mask (VOFM), cup phonation, and straw phonation (there is POWER in varying straw diameters, lengths, and depths within water). “Variations in the parameters of SOVTE (tube length, tube diameter, depth that tube is submerged in water), can impact the effectiveness of the intervention, depending on the individual (daSilva et al., 2019). ALL are designed to increase intraoral pressure, improving the impedance match at the level of the vocal folds.

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Some SOVTEs, (ex: humming, voicing through a VOFM, & cup phonation) incorporate a single source of vibration occurring at the level of the vocal folds; this creates a steady intraoral pressure. Other SOVTEs (ex: lip trills, tongue trills, & straw phonation in water) involve vibration at the level of the vocal folds, AND an additional source of vibration at the distal end of the vocal tract (dual source). This creates a fluctuating intraoral pressure and is thought to impart a MASSAGE effect on laryngeal tissue (Andrade et al., 2014).

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Improved aerodynamic efficiency occurs both DURING an immediately AFTER completing SOVTEs, making their implementation ideal for a vocal warm-up AND rescue (Dargin & Searl, 2015; Fadel et al., 2016). “A vocal WARM-UP strategy is designed to optimize laryngeal function, whereas a vocal RESCUE strategy is designed to assist the voice user in healthily meeting their vocal needs, despite their voice already being taxed” (Keitz & McHenry, 2022). But hey, wouldn’t you rather PRIORITIZE vocal warm-ups that result in these amazing effects versus need a vocal rescue?! “Rescues” may be required in some circumstances, but let them be the exception to the rule. Find the time to #prioritizeyourvoice and make doing so a habit! Let the long-term goal be to establish efficient and practical vocal warm-up (and rescue) strategies in order to help you maintain HEALTHY voice production, establish vocal RESILIENCE during occupational and professional voice use, and to provide yourself TOOLS to implement during the day to day as well as during vocally demanding times.

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How are YOU prioritizing your voice today? And everyday? As an OCCUPATIONAL VOICE USER, it SHOULD be one of your top priorities! 

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What do you need to know to keep your voice healthy?  You should understand how the voice works, how to protect and care for your voice, and how to use your voice and entire vocal mechanism in the most efficient, effective, and dynamic ways possible.  
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I’m super PASSIONATE about this population of voice users (I’m one and most of you are too!), and am HERE TO HELP! Reach out with any questions, concerns, or if you’d like to work together. Email me at [email protected] 

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#voxfit #voice #prioritizeyourvoice #healthyvoice #vocalhealth #vocalwellness #vocalefficiency #vocaldynamics #speechpathologist #voicespecialist #fitnessinstructor #prioritizeyourhealth #vocalinstrument #occupationalvoiceuser #sovte #semioccludedvocaltractexercises #vocalwarmup #research #vocaleconomy