Vocal Efficiency and Vocal Economy
April 14, 2019
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Vocal efficiency and vocal economy are “fancy” terms for the basic ability to sustain phonation (voice) over long periods of time without injury (or fatigue). Sounds like the perfect goal as an occupational voice user!! Not so basic or easy though is it?...Especially if you have a job that requires you to use your voice constantly, and in dynamic ways! The voice is an instrument, YOUR INSTRUMENT, and the vehicle through which you deliver your incredibly important message out to the world, each and every day. It is the SAME instrument, no matter how it is being used (casual voice, “work” voice, “social” voice, “teaching” voice, “presentation” voice, etc.). This is why it is essential to always be aware of how you are caring for and using your instrument in all settings and scenarios within your daily life. Your goal (just like any athlete or musician) is to use your (well taken care of) instrument in the most efficient and effective ways possible, and achieve and maintain the most optimal vocal economy while doing so.
A new (2019!) article in the Journal of Voice entitled Variation on Vocal Economy after Different Semi-occluded Vocal Tract Exercises in Subjects with Normal Voice and Dysphonia (Calvache, et al.) discusses the impact of specific voice exercises (semi-occluded vocal tract exercises –SOVTEs—a fancy way to say exercises where the mouth is partially closed) on the vocal economy of people with normal voice and those with voice problems (dysphonia). Both healthy participants and those with dysphonia were instructed to select and practice three SOVTEs from a list of eight possibilities. An electroglottographic based measure QOCR was used to calculate the vocal economy before and after each exercise was performed. The research group found significant differences when comparing pre and post vocal economy regardless of whether or not the voice was “normal” or dysphonic OR which exercise was chosen/practiced. However, when each specific exercise was looked into more closely, the most significant changes in vocal economy were found when the chosen exercise was use of a 10 cm tube in water (Lax Vox/straw phonation in water). Generally, the study found that SOVTEs will positively impact (increase) vocal economy of voice (and that’s ANY type of voice—a normal or disordered one!...So you can practice and find benefit without even having a problem!). In addition, straw phonation in water (termed water resistance therapy or Lax Vox) promoted the highest increase in this vocal economy as described by: increased acoustic output (vocal sound and power), non-proportional increase in vocal fold adduction (improved closure of vocal folds), and an effortless voice production (voice with no effort/strain= ALWAYS the goal!).
As an occupational voice user, why does this study and its results matter to you? The voice is your instrument, and you should condition it as such. Start incorporating the daily practice of SOVTEs! When the mouth is partially closed as it will be in all of these exercises, back pressure reflects at the lips to help the vocal folds vibrate with more ease and less muscular effort (a.k.a. VOCAL ECONOMY!). Well known and research-based SOVTE examples include: lip trills, tongue trills, straw phonation, Lax Vox (straw in water), “resonant” humming (humming with vibrations), and the production of several sounds (/v/, /z/, /m/, /n/, /ng/). Research says that the maximum benefit from straw phonation is achieved when you practice 15 minutes per day (although this can be 2-5 minutes at one time several times throughout the day as this is actually more effective because you will commit to shorter practice periods and you will be constantly “resetting” the voice and promoting healthy vocal fold activation and vibration multiple times throughout your day!). Stay tuned for more information about SOVTEs soon and reach out with any questions!
*Consider the use of paper-based or glass straws, as we all know the negative impact that plastic can have on our earth.*
