As an otolaryngologist with many years of experience, I often encounter patients who come to me for help with hoarseness in my outpatient clinics. Hoarseness can be caused by a variety of causes, but people often mistakenly believe that changing their diet will solve the problem. Today, I'd like to share the science behind hoarseness through a specific case, and what really works.
A few months ago, a professional singer came to my clinic with persistent hoarseness. He told me that despite having tried various recommended dietary treatments, such as drinking more honey lemonade and avoiding spicy and fried foods, his condition has not improved. After a detailed examination and examination, we found that he had a slight nodule in his vocal cords, which was a problem that could be resolved by professional treatment rather than a simple dietary modification.
Scientific Method 1: Proper sound rest
Step One: Understand the true meaning of sound breaks
Sound breaks don't just mean stopping talking. It involves reducing all behaviors that can cause vocal cord tension, such as whispering, coughing, laughing, and crying. Doing so can reduce further damage to the already damaged vocal cords.
Step two: Implement a complete sound break
On the advice of a doctor, a complete sound break may be required, which means no sound at all, and the duration can vary from a few hours to a few days. This is usually indicated in cases of acute hoarseness following vocal cord overuse.
Step 3: Choose the right time and environment
It is ideal to choose to implement sound breaks in a relatively quiet environment. Avoid social activities that require the use of your voice and reduce the number of phone calls or meetings. At home, you can use writing or hand gestures to communicate with your family.
Step 4: Use assistive tools
Tools such as sticky notes, cell phones, or computers can be used to help communicate during sound breaks to avoid the use of sound. Many modern devices support speech-to-text functionality, which can reduce the need to speak when you have to communicate.
Step 5: Gradually return to normal speaking volume
Normal speaking intensity should not be returned immediately after completing the vocal break. In the beginning, you can gradually increase the duration and intensity of your speech, watching for signs of hoarseness in your voice again. If so, immediately reduce the amount of talk and consult a medical professional.
With the above steps, proper vocal rest can provide the necessary recovery time for the damaged vocal cords, reduce inflammation, and avoid further injury. It's a simple but extremely effective method and a critical first step in restoring healthy vocal cords.
Scientific Method 2: Professional Voice Training
1. Understand the basics of voice training
Voice training is often led by a professional voice therapist who uses a range of proven techniques to help improve your articulation style and voice use strategies. The goal of training is to reduce excessive tension on the vocal cords and improve the efficiency of the voice while reducing the risk of injury.
2. Overview of training content
Breathing techniques: Learning the correct way to breathe is the foundation of voice training. Your therapist will teach you how to use abdominal breathing to support vocalizations and avoid relying solely on laryngeal strength.
Vocal exercises: include relaxation exercises for the vocal cords and correct vocal techniques to ensure that the vocal cords are not damaged by incorrect use.
Pitch Adjustment: Tune your pitch to keep it in a natural and healthy range, avoiding the extra stress of pitches that are too high or too low.
Articulation intelligibility: Improving the articulation of pronunciation through specific phonics exercises is especially important for public speakers and teachers.
3. Find the right specialists and courses
Choosing the right voice therapist is crucial. You can find a qualified voice therapist through a medical center, a professional voice therapy facility, or through a doctor's referral. Make sure the therapist has experience with similar cases and can provide a customized training plan.
4. Expected Results
After a series of trainings, you can expect the following results:
Significantly improves the quality and stability of the sound.
Reduces the occurrence of hoarseness and fatigue.
Maintain long-term vocal cord health to avoid future vocal cord problems.
Through these professional trainings, your voice will not only return to its normal state, but will also be more robust and long-lasting in future use. Remember, consistent practice and proper vocal habits are key to maintaining sound health.
Scientific Method III: Medical Intervention
1. When to seek medical intervention
Persistent hoarseness: If hoarseness is more than two weeks, it is advisable to consult an otolaryngologist.
Pain or difficulty swallowing: Pain or difficulty swallowing occurs with hoarseness, which may be a sign of a more serious condition.
Difficulty breathing: Anytime a voice problem is accompanied by difficulty breathing, you should seek immediate medical attention.
2. Common medical treatments
Medications: including the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and cough suppressants. These medications can help reduce inflammation and discomfort in the larynx.
Vocal cord injections: In some cases, such as vocal cord weakness, your doctor may recommend filler or botulinum toxin injections to improve sound quality.
Surgical treatment: Surgery may be needed for hoarseness caused by vocal cord nodules, polyps, or other structural problems. Surgery is aimed at removing growths or repairing vocal cord damage.
3. Choose the right expert
Find a medical professional: Make sure the treatment is carried out by an experienced otolaryngologist or sound therapy specialist.
Multidisciplinary team: In some complex cases, a combination of an otolaryngologist, voice therapist, and other specialists may be required for evaluation and treatment.
4. Follow-up
Regular check-ups: Regular follow-ups should be done after completion of treatment to monitor recovery and identify potential relapses in a timely manner.
Ongoing sound maintenance: Maintaining good sound maintenance habits is still necessary even with medical intervention. This includes taking proper rest, avoiding excessive use of sound, etc.
In conclusion, medical interventions can provide a solution to those hoarseness that have not been improved by conventional methods. It is important to carry out the treatment under the guidance of a professional doctor to ensure safety and effectiveness. With a combination of medical and daily maintenance measures, most patients can expect a noticeable improvement in sound.