You can’t always take care of your voice by yourself
Many singers (regardless of genre) will experience a voice issue at some point during their studies or career. It is normal for athletes to get injured and recover - vocal athletes are no exception. It could be primarily due to a structural issue (like nodules, cysts etc.), an infection, a muscular issue, or a combination of these. Psychological and emotional factors will also be relevant.
Some common vocal symptoms singers experience include:
Loss of range or gaps in your range
Loss of power and/or flexibility
Pain, fatigue, hoarseness
Increased recovery time needed
Increased warm-up time needed
Problems with loud or soft singing
Loss of stamina
Habitual huskiness in the speaking voice
When should I ask for help?
If you have experienced any of the following:
Vocal symptoms that have lasted more than 2-3 weeks
Vocal symptoms persisting more than 2 weeks after you have recovered from a viral or bacterial infection
Sudden voice loss while performing that does not resolve after 48 hours
Who should I ask for help?
Make an appointment with your GP and ask for a referral to an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) consultant who is a voice specialist*.
*Please note that not all ENTs are voice specialists - you will need an ENT with the correct specialist equipment and qualifications*
Your ENT may refer you on to one of (or a combination of) the following:
Speech and Language Therapist (who must also be a voice specialist)
Singing Voice Rehabilitation Specialist (who should work closely with your ENT and SLT)
Physiotherapist/Osteopath (who has experience working with singers)
Vocal Massage Therapist (who should have advanced training and experience working with singers)
Psychologist (preferably one who has experience working with singers)
The concept of a voice care team is still relatively new in Ireland, so it is important that you are able to act as your own advocate in your appointment with the GP and ENT. Emphasise the importance of your voice to your career and mental wellbeing. If you would like help to prepare for these appointments and to know what to expect - please book in for an initial vocal health assessment with me.
If you’re based in the UK, the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine is a great resource. They have a practitioner directory where you can locate one of their approved practitioners and/or voice clinics in your local area.
What is singing voice rehabilitation?
The goal of singing voice rehabilitation is to return you to full vocal health and equip you with the skills you need to get back to performing without fear of your voice problem recurring.
A Singing Voice Rehabilitation Specialist must work as part of a multi-disciplinary team including an ENT and a SLT (Speech and Language Therapist) as well as any others involved in your voice care. Rehabilitation work can take place pre/post operatively, during speech therapy, and/or after speech therapy. This work does not act as a replacement to your singing teacher, but rather as the crucial link between your speech therapy work and your return to your singing teacher.
‘Singing Voice Rehabilitation Specialist’ is not a protected term in Ireland, so you must exercise caution when someone advertises this as one of their services. We do not yet have an accrediting body for this in Ireland. However, the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) in the UK have developed a number of competencies they expect Voice Rehabilitation Coaches to have. These include: advanced knowledge of functional anatomy, understanding symptoms and causes of voice disorders, an ongoing relationship with a voice clinic, many hours of observation in a voice clinic, endoscopic interpretation skills, counselling skills, palpation skills, and a track record of working as a singing teacher for at least 6 years.
I have been using these competencies as my training guide and am working towards BAPAM accreditation in the future. I am also actively collaborating with ENTs and Speech Language Therapists in my ongoing training. In the absence of voice clinic observation opportunities in Ireland, I have observed in specialist voice clinics in London and have further observations scheduled elsewhere once the COVID-19 pandemic has eased. I am also regularly engaging in continued professional development courses.