When Usha shouts, her vocal cords
are clashing against each other- ultimately causing them to become
enlarged. This impedes their movements resulting in a periodic loss of
voice. If this happens often enough, the cords develop small boils (not
surprisingly called "teacher's nodules"). Treated early, such nodules
may well disappear. But. as is often the case, the vocal abuse continues
and brings in the prospect of surgical intervention. This does not
really solve the problem completely. Vocal-cord surgery itself can cause
an irreversible scarring of the delicate vocal tissue
leading to permanent hoarseness of voice. E.N.T. surgeons consider such
surgery only as a last option. They prefer to first refer the case to a
speech therapist who will attempt to help the person alter his or her
'vocal' manner
Modifying Speech Habits
Speech is
one of our body's strongest habits. Even the quality of voice we produce
is the result of a collection of body motions and could well be termed
habitual. For Usha, the answer to her recurring voice problem lies
in developing an easier manner of speaking which will minimize if not
prevent the trauma caused to her vocal cords every teaching day. This
newer, easier speaking style will involve modifying her speech habits.
She will teach herself to speak with a more relaxed muscular tonus. She
will select a pitch level more appropriate to her laryngeal dimensions
and therefore more pleasant. She will develop her ability to project her
voice more effectively. She will also adopt a variety of other simple
techniques which will all help her avoid losing her voice
periodically
Muscular tone plays an important role in the
quality of voice produced. Our voice-box can be compared to a musical
instrument and the tone of the voice produced is dependent upon the
degree of tension in the muscles which envelope the voice-box - the
muscles of the neck. If abnormally strained, these muscles change the
quality of the voice for the worse. And teaching is strenuous work It is
possible to develop the ability to be loud without overly straining the
vocal system. Loudness is controlled by the amount of air exhaled and
not by using greater force at the laryngeal level. So one of the first
things Usha should do is to learn to focus her energy towards developing
greater 'lung power' rather than tightening her neck muscles. Actually,
tense muscles interfere with loudness rather than help it. Speaking with
continually tense muscles has undesirable long term repercussions too.
SELECTING THE RIGHT PITCH Any sound whether it is song or speech has two
basic parameters. Its volume (or how loud it is) and its pitch (or tone
or frequency). Men have a larger larynx and their vocal cords are
longer. Therefore males generally have a low-pitched (or deep)
voice.
Women on the other hand, have smaller larynxes and
shorter vocal cords which is why their voices are higher in pitch
However, every larynx has the capacity to produce a range of pitches.
Asha Bhosle can go from one pitch to another quite effortlessly because
she has a trained singing voice. Maybe not to her degree of control, but
all of us are also capable of producing more pitch levels than we
do.
Every larynx has an optimal pitch level depending on
individual factors. If this optimal pitch is identified and used, the
resultant voice will have a pleasant quality and the speaker will be
able to produce it with a minimal of effort. The best voice is one which
is produced effortlessly
Vocal
Projection
To enable her to be heard even by
students on the last benches in the classroom, Usha will need to
practice voice projection which is one of the techniques taught to stage
actors. Raising the mental focal point of vocal production; speaking
with the mouth more open, pausing between sentences to replenish the air
supply in the lungs, etc. are some of the areas touched Helping teachers
and anyone else with voice disorders is the responsibility of a speech
therapist who is trained to analyze the problem and suggest techniques
which will prevent their recurrence. Considering that this problem
affects many teachers in many schools and colleges, it might not really
be a bad idea for the school authorities to conduct short courses for
their teachers to promote better speech habits and thus prevent or
minimize the incidence of voice-loss amongst their teachers. After all,
every workman takes care of his tools and one of the lady teacher's main
'tool' is her voice!
January 11, 2000
Top | Dr. Ajit
Harisinghani
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By arrangement with Speech
Foundation
Image courtesy Jessie Coates