Singing – Total Voice

Are voice problems linked to dementia?

by Kate DeVore
Filed Under: Myth Busters, Professional Speaking, Singing, Vocal health, Vocal Injury, Voice Therapy

Spoiler: it appears the answer is yes! A recent study looked at over 800,000 patient reports and discovered that people who have been diagnosed with a voice disorder at some point in their life are significantly more likely to develop dementia later in life.

We have known for years that hearing loss is linked to cognitive decline, with a 27% increased risk. One speculation for this is that the inability to hear conversations causes people to withdraw from social interactions, which can enhance the likelihood of dementia. Let’s look at the specifics from this new study.

Feeling choked up? Emotions and throat tension explained

by Kate DeVore
Filed Under: Being Heard, Myth Busters, Owning the Room, Powerful Speaking, Professional Speaking, Singing, Stage Fright, Vocal health, Voice for Stage, Voice Therapy

I was recently coaching a highly skilled actor who has a habit of tensing in their throat when voicing, especially emotionally-laden lines. If you have ever performed, or watched a performance with empathy, you will understand that this is a very common and natural challenge. But have you noticed how common it is in daily life as well?

A simple vocal tune-up/warm-up

by Kate DeVore
Filed Under: Being Heard, Breath Support, Owning the Room, Powerful Speaking, Professional Speaking, Singing, Vocal health, Vocal Injury, Voice for Stage, Voice Therapy, Voiceover

“I would have warmed my voice up before the call but I didn’t know how!” This was the confession of a friend recently. So let’s make sure that doesn’t happen to anyone else!

Should you stop using vocal fry?

by Kate DeVore
Filed Under: Being Heard, Breath Support, Myth Busters, Owning the Room, Powerful Speaking, Professional Speaking, Singing, Vocal health, Vocal Injury, Voice for Stage, Voice Therapy, Voiceover

Vocal fry is a creaky sound that many of us make at the end of a sentence (at least occasionally), and some people use throughout their speech (the Kardashians brought this into the limelight). A lot of people consider it unprofessional and problematic, but is it?

Stressed? Try humming for health

by Kate DeVore
Filed Under: Breath Support, Myth Busters, Owning the Room, Powerful Speaking, Professional Speaking, Singing, Stage Fright, Vocal health, Vocal Injury, Voice Therapy

Yep, simply humming can affect your body and mood. I’m going to discuss a little of the data, and then give you a simple way to play with it on your own.

None of this is surprising, really, when we consider the widespread use of sound waves in Western medicine. Ultrasound is a vital non-invasive diagnostic tool, and sound waves are frequently used to treat tumors, kidney stones, broken bones, blood clots, and so much more.

Do you have a weak vocal cord?

by Kate DeVore
Filed Under: Being Heard, Powerful Speaking, Professional Speaking, Singing, Vocal health, Vocal Injury, Voice Therapy

Vocal fold weakness (technically called paresis) is a surprisingly common problem, and it can go untreated because it can be difficult to diagnose.