Professional Voice Users

People who use their voice for a living are more at risk for developing voice problems.

Occupations that require significant voice use include:

• Teaching
• Singing
• Acting
• Sales
• Telemarketing
• Customer Service
• Lawyers
• Waiter/Waitresses

Avocational Voice Use

Recreational activities can also be vocally demanding, such as:

• Singing
• Acting
• Coaching
• Athletics
• Sporting Events (e.g., yelling at the football game, etc.)
• Public Speaking
• Volunteer Work (that requires extended voice use)

Voice problems

• Hoarseness or undesirable voice quality
• Vocal fatigue (voice wears out or worsens with use)
• Fluctuating voice quality
• Reduced volume or pitch flexibility
• Pain or soreness associated with voice use

Cause for concern?

Any sudden or severe voice changes should be evaluated immediately.
Gradual onset of hoarseness, vocal fatigue, or other symptoms of laryngitis that persist for longer than three weeks should be evaluated as well.

Increased Vocal Demands

Any profession that requires three or more hours of speaking or singing per day is considered to be vocally demanding.

Greater stress on the voice occurs when working in noisy environments such as construction sites, factories, or classrooms.

Speaking or singing for greater than one hour at a time is also considered to be extended voice use.

Even highly trained voice users (e.g., professional singers, actors) can develop voice problems, despite good vocal technique.