Last week NPR featured an article entitled, “The Surgery That Saves Silenced Singers,” where they examined the pressures placed on a singers voice, and the often drastic measures taken to heal the damage inflicted.
The article talked about British pop/soul singer Adele and the unfortunate canceling of her 2011 tour due to vocal hemorrhages, and how frequently this occurs to singers.
What many don’t know is that performers are in a high-risk business; you could consider them “vocal athletes.” They use their “instrument” day in and day out, and the injuries that are sustained are not always the same. The vocal cords, which makes the vibrations we hear as speech or singing, are incredibly fragile, and when singers place a high level of stress on them, the consequences can be devastating. From vocal fatigue to severe hemorrhaging, the demands placed on performers voices, can actually be what leads them to taking a break from performing.
This can also be true for other professions where the voice is placed in high demand including; teachers, instructors, salespersons, coaches and many other professions. It is important to care for your voice, and if problems persist, we advise seeking help from a professional to learn more about what you can do to maintain a healthy voice.