Teachers are at special risk for developing hoarseness simply because the job requires heavy voice use five days a week, with little time in between to allow the voice to recover. In fact, half of all teachers have a voice problem at some point in their careers.

With a little knowledge, many teachers can keep occasional hoarseness from becoming a chronic problem. However, if you are hoarse for more than two weeks, you should seek medical attention.

• Follow recommendations for hydration, managing allergies and reflux, and avoiding vocal misuse or overuse.
• Avoid getting sick by washing your hands before eating and before touching your face, mouth, nose, or eyes.
• Women should be aware of the monthly menstrual cycle and how that may affect the voice. Many women have some vocal fold swelling (and thus, a mild change in voice quality) around day 21 of the cycle. If this is true for you, avoid heavy voice use at these times.
• Don’t smoke! This irritates the vocal folds, can make you hoarse, and can cause throat cancer.

How can I avoid overusing my voice?

• Overusing your voice during a teaching day is an occupational hazard. Rest your voice (be silent) between times of heavy voice use, so the voice has time to recover. Work in some quiet time for “voice naps” during your teaching day – even breaks of 15 minutes can help. If possible, have an assistant or volunteer perform speaking activities, such as reading a story aloud to your students.
• Outside of work, be aware of extra voice use, like singing or yelling at sports events. These can push your “voice use quota” over the limit. You will likely need to prioritize your voice use, and avoid “spending” your voice on activities that aren’t essential.
• If you do become hoarse, limit speaking or singing. Avoid any non-essential voice use. If you must use your voice during this time, take special care to be well hydrated, avoid pushing from the throat to force the voice out, and rest your voice as soon as you get a chance.

What vocal behaviors should I avoid because they easily cause hoarseness?

• Don’t yell or shout for extended periods.
• Avoid talking over noise whenever possible. Turn off the TV or radio when talking, and take care to monitor your loudness level at social gatherings. Wearing an earplug in one ear can help you hear your voice in a noisy gathering, so that you can avoid being too loud. Whenever possible, turn down the volume on your voice.
• Avoid chronic coughing or clearing your throat, as these behaviors irritate the throat and can cause vocal fold swelling. Sip water instead, and swallow your mucous.
• Avoid whispering. Use a quiet voice instead.

How can I make sure I am using my best voice production for teaching?

• Use good posture and good breath support when speaking. Make sure you are using a diaphragmatic breathing pattern rather than a shallow breathing pattern that relies on the upper chest. Allow the abdominal muscles to relax as you inhale, and feel the rib cage expand as you fill up with air. Let the shoulders remain still. Using your best breath support and voice production can help you avoid becoming hoarse.
• Warm up your voice before your teaching day so that you begin with your best voice production. Use easy humming to glide up and down on three notes, moving up one note for the next series, and repeat as you move gently through your vocal range multiples times, taking a breath whenever you need to. This way, you will gradually and gently stretch your vocal folds. As you hum, notice vibrations in the front of your face, and keep your throat relaxed. Next, repeat the same sequence using a syllable such as “mum” or “num” or “me.” Notice the vibrations in the front of your face. Next, try gently speaking sentences that have lots of “m” words (Meet me on Monday). Again, feel the vibrations of the front of your face, and make sure your throat is relaxed. Finally, say some everyday phrases using the same easy production. Your goal is to use this easy vocal production throughout the day.

How can I best use my voice in a typical noisy classroom?

• When you can, use sound makers (whistle, hand clap) to gain students’ attention, rather than a loud voice.
• Use personal amplification or room amplification when teaching to minimize voice overuse. The Chattervox and Spokeman personal amplifiers are two of the most popular and can be purchased for less than $200. Personal amplification goes wherever you go -- in the classroom, in the cafeteria, or outside. Room amplification involves modifying the room and requires approval from your school. These systems generally cost around $1,500.
• Improve your classroom acoustics by adding acoustic panels to the ceiling and walls and carpeting to the floors. These materials help decrease the reverberation or echo of sound in the room. Minimize the noise from fans, lights, overhead projectors, and sound coming from other classes. For more specific tips, look online for the booklet on classroom acoustics by the Acoustical Society of America.