A strained voice usually needs less work, not more effort. These habits are the ones we ask patients to follow while the vocal folds calm down.
Use less voice
Talk less when you can. Short phone calls are easier on the larynx than long ones. In a group, one face-to-face conversation is easier than talking over several people.
Keep the volume moderate. Do not shout across a room, and do not try to talk over traffic, music, or a television. If you have to be heard in noise, step closer and speak quietly.
Sporting events and singing are common ways people injure a voice that is already tired. If your ENT has asked you to rest, skip both until the voice is back.
What makes strain worse
Smoke and alcohol dry the vocal folds and push people to talk louder. Heavy lifting, pushing, and straining (including straining with constipation) tighten the throat at the same time. Treat a cold, and try to cut down a cough that will not stop.
Throat clearing is its own injury. A hard rasp bangs the vocal folds together. A soft puff of air, like a quiet "h," clears mucus with less impact.
Laryngitis and whispering
Laryngitis needs real voice rest: no talking. Whispering is not a substitute. It can load the vocal folds more than easy, quiet speech.
Hoarseness that lasts more than two or three weeks needs an exam, even if you feel otherwise well. Read when a hoarse voice should be checked, or see our ear, nose, and throat team.
