Voice Care Guidelines


These guidelines have been developed up by a group at Sheffield University in Sheffield, England. They are being used in a European Union (TIDE) project called ENABL which is interfacing speech recognition input to a sophisticated generative product design and configuration program called ICAD (though NOT a CAD program). This program is used by companies such as British Aerospace (airplane design), and Jaguar and Lotus (automobile design). We're interested in hearing from anyone who is interested in this subject. Thanks!

Sheri Hunnicutt


While you are regularly using voice access to a computer, your voice is a valuable tool and therefore needs maintaining. The following suggestions should help you, both while you are actually using a speech recognition system and when you are not. Think of your voice the same way as you think of your cash and try to keep the account in credit.

The following suggestions are intended specifically for voice care while using speech recognition:

  1. You will find that your throat gets much drier than when you usually talk. Keep your throat moist by sipping water while you work. Try not to always use the system in a dry atmosphere.

  2. You may find you are breathing through your mouth while dictating. The need to speak word by word in a discrete word system makes it particularly likely for this to happen. Try instead, to breathe through your nose. This will filter and humidify the air and also adjust the temperature.

  3. Don't work for long periods of time at one go. Have something to drink (not tea or coffee) after every hour. If you notice any of the following: dry throat, sore throat, croaky voice, or any change in the sound of your voice, then you need a break.

  4. Try to pace your voice work, not just voice work at the computer, across the day so you have rest periods. You will soon get a feel for what you can expect your voice to do comfortably. Remember your vocal cords are like any other muscle, they will work well if treated well and kept in good condition. They will also tire like any other muscle.

  5. It can be tempting to sometimes raise your voice to the computer! This is especially likely to happen when you are in command mode or when things are going wrong or when you are concentrating hard. It may do wonders for your ego to boss the computer around but it doesn't do much for your voice. Make sure when you are dictating that you use a soft voice.

  6. Move your neck and shoulders around from time to time. Especially in the early stages of learning the system when you are concentrating you may tense up around the shoulders. This will inevitably spread to your neck and larynx and larynxes work best when they are relaxed. Use good posture generally. The ideal posture for speaking is with the chin at 90 degrees to the neck, not tucked in and not stretched out.

Notes:

  1. If you have a disability that prevents you from adopting some of the strategies described in these voice care guidelines, we recommend that you should consult your physiotherapist and/or speech therapist. Your individual reqirements need individual consideration.

  2. If you use your computer at work you should have already had consultation with a specialist to ensure that you are able to maintain good practice and posture while using a computer.

These suggestions make good sense whatever you are doing:

  1. Don't cough or clear your throat habitually. Instead drink some water or clear your throat very gently. Try a swallow instead.

  2. Don't yell, cheer or scream habitually.

  3. Avoid prolonged talking over long distances.

  4. Avoid talking in noisy situations, over background noise such as radios, televisions, other people talking loudly etc.

  5. Make sure you always have a good air supply. Don't carry on speaking when you have run out of breath and are having to force air out. Stop and take a breath instead.

  6. If you use your voice professionally, e.g. if you are a teacher, singer, sports referee, clergyman, actor etc., then try not to put too heavy a load on your voice in any one day.

  7. If you have a cold or throat infection then avoid talking as much as you can.

  8. Avoid smoky atmospheres. If you are a smoker, the single best thing you can do to preserve your voice is to stop!

References

Colton, R., & Caspar. J. (1996) Understanding Voice Problems, Williams & Silkins, especially pp. 300-304.

Fawcus, M. (1991) Hypofunctional Voice: the misuse and abuse syndrome, in Voice Disorders and their Management, Chapman & Hall.

Martin, S: Working With Dysphonics (1996) Winslow Press, especially pp. 16-21, 222-223.

Morrison, M. & Rammage, L. (1994) The Management of Voice Disorders. Chapman & Hall Medical, London.


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