News
World Voice Day - April 16
World Voice Day is an opportunity to inform the public about voice health
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Singers, journalists and teachers often learn to pay attention to their voice when it鈥檚 too late. But there are simple ways to keep one鈥檚 voice in good health.
Published: 13 April 2015
听When:
- 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 平特五不中鈥檚 New Music Building Rm A-832, 527 Sherbrooke St. W.听 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鈥檚 voice, drinking water, avoiding dry-air environments鈥)
- Treatments for major problems range from exercises to injecting a drug into the patient鈥檚 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 鈥渧ocal hygiene鈥.
- Prof Nicole Li, Assistant Professor of Faculty of Medicine at 平特五不中, 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鈥檚 clinic.