News
World Voice Day - April 16
World Voice Day is an opportunity to inform the public about voice health
Singers, journalists and teachers often learn to pay attention to their voice when it’s too late. But there are simple ways to keep one’s voice in good health.
Published: 13 April 2015
ĚýWhen:
- April 16 is the official World Voice Day
- A public seminar on voice health will be held April 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at McGill’s New Music Building Rm A-832, 527 Sherbrooke St. W.Ěý For more information:mcgill.ca/scsd/wvd
Why it is important
- Voice disorders affect one in ten adults in their lifetime.
- They often affect people whose work depends critically on voice, such as teachers, coaches, salespeople, politicians, and singers. The singer Adele, for example, cancelled a tour in 2011 because of voice problems, but good treatment allowed her to make a successful comeback.
- Voice problems can lead to loss of employment and depression.
What can be done
- Most problems can be prevented or self-managed.
- Screening for emerging problems in a voice clinic (imaging of vocal cords, sound testing of the voice)
- Good voice habits (modifying and resting one’s voice, drinking water, avoiding dry-air environments…)
- Treatments for major problems range from exercises to injecting a drug into the patient’s throat or other types of surgeries.
The future of voice health
- Researchers are now looking at ways to diagnose some problems using lasers instead of doing biopsy which involves minor surgery.
Potential interviewees
- Dr Karen Kost is a medical doctor and Director of the Voice Clinic at the Montreal General Hospital. She can comment on screening, therapy and what is good “vocal hygiene”.
- Prof Nicole Li, Assistant Professor of Faculty of Medicine at McGill, is in charge of a research lab on voice disorders. She can talk about voice therapy and the research behind that.
- Corina Vincelli is a professional singer and was treated for voice problems at Dr Kost’s clinic.