Have you recently battled a cold, cough, flu, chest infection, or even COVID and emerged victorious, only to find your voice hasn’t quite returned to normal? Many people experience this frustration. You wait patiently, hoping for improvement, but eventually it becomes apparent that your voice hasn’t fully recovered. This is a common reason why people seek the expertise of a voice therapist.
Understanding the Issue
After recovering from upper respiratory conditions, some individuals notice their voices don’t bounce back as expected. Even after being reassured by an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist that the vocal cords are structurally sound, lingering issues may persist. Sometimes, a viral infection leaves behind residual inflammation, evidenced by lingering coughs, mucus, or throat clearing. However, the real challenge is the lasting impact on the voice, which can be incredibly frustrating.
When to Seek Professional Help
If you notice changes in your voice post-illness, it’s crucial to seek evaluation first from an ENT to ensure everything is structurally normal. Then, consulting a voice specialist can address the functional aspect. Voice changes, especially post-infection, can present as a deepening of the voice, often associated with laryngitis, leading to a non-functional state. While in many cases, the voice may start recovering after a few days, it’s important to be mindful of emerging habits that can lead to persistent issues.
Breaking Unhealthy Vocal Patterns
When pushed through illness, your voice might develop unhealthy patterns. Speaking through inflamed vocal cords can leave behind patterns of misuse even after recovery. Relearning good voicing and breathing practices is key to restoring your voice.
The Path to Voice Rehabilitation
A residual “creak” in the voice may be intermittent or constant, signalling the need for rehabilitation. Much like physical fitness, your voice needs to be exercised back into shape. Long-term non-use can cause the voice to fall back into a pattern termed “laryngeal retraction,” which feels soft and relaxing but isn’t practical for dynamic vocal tasks.
Achieving Vocal Flexibility and Strength
For a voice to be flexible and last through daily challenges, it needs dynamic use that avoids developing restrictive habits. Sometimes, after illness, people might unconsciously restrict their voice for a sense of safety. However, rehabilitating the voice with professional guidance can prevent these long-term constraints, allowing quick and effective recovery.
Conclusion
Vocal recovery post-illness is possible with the right approach and professional help. If you found this guidance helpful, consider subscribing to our channel and liking the content for more insights on vocal health and recovery.
By understanding the nature of vocal issues post-illness and addressing them early, you can pave the way to regain your voice’s full functionality and vitality.