Your Aging Voice: Three Things You Should Know
Did you know that your voice is changing as you age? Just like any other part of the body that changes (muscles atrophy, mucous membranes begin to thin and dry, coordination decreases), your larynx is subject to these changes, too. Voice symptoms you may notice include a vocal sound that is higher pitched in the male voice but a lower-pitched in the female voice, less volume and projection, more vocal fatigue, and even voice tremors. Additionally, if you are hard of hearing, your symptoms may be exacerbated.
If you need a well-functioning voice for work, here are some strategies you can use to keep up your strong voice:
- Maintain overall body fitness by staying physically active. Overall body fitness has been shown to benefit the voice. People who stay in shape have voices that match so don’t give up your daily exercise as you age!
- Use it or lose it. Keep your voice active throughout the day. You can read out loud, sing or hum to the radio, and/or do some daily vocal exercises. Even if you are only vocally active for 10-15 minutes a day, you are benefitting from using those muscles. Here’s one simple exercise you can try….pretend to be a siren and hum up and down on a scale. This will stretch your vocal cords and keep them active. (It is also a reminder of just how much pitch you have available in your vocal range. Use pitch variation when you speak to sound conversational and interesting.) The more you use it, the more you will continue to sound like you always do.
- Strengthen your breathing muscles (which is the power behind your voice). If you aren’t using deep breaths when you speak, you aren’t properly supporting your voice. Without good breath support, you will sound hoarse and gravelly (Glottal Fry). Additionally, you won’t be able to project your voice as well because the sound will be weak and thin.
If you want a strong voice in the workplace, doing daily exercises even for a short time will benefit your voice tremendously and you will sound confident, youthful and have an engaging style. There are many more voice exercises that a speech pathologist or voice specialist can tailor to your needs and teach you the proper techniques. It takes only a few sessions to learn and sometimes insurance pays for it.
Of course, if you have had a sudden change in your voice or if you feel uncomfortable with any type of voice change, please consult with an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist.