Some people sound hoarse or lose their voices on a regular basis. Others have vocal pain off and on. If either of these circumstances describe you, then you likely can pinpoint it to one of the below habits or a physical ailment. Though we can’t completely control how often we must sing sick, avoiding these six behaviors that hurt the voice increases the amount of time your voice sounds healthy.

Coughing or Clearing the Throat: Clearing the throat slaps the vocal folds forcefully together similar to the motion of slapping hands.


Making a habit of it can cause red and swollen vocal cords. Particularly vulnerable are those who clear their throats as nervous ticks and those with seasonal allergies. Instead of coughing they should find alternative methods to calm the throat, such as taking a sip of water or drinking a glass of tea. Though coughing excessively while ill can also aggravate the vocal cords and cause vocal fatigue, it generally causes vocal pain for only a short time period.

Overuse of Voice: Some professions require a lot of talking, such as cheerleaders, teachers, and those who make a living by taking or making phone calls. Even if someone whispers all day long, the need to constantly speak can cause vocal strain. That is especially true when using the voice while sick or hoarse from misuse or abuse. Serious singers with a day job that requires a lot of talking should consider taking sick days when their voices are compromised.

Singing Too High: Some singers abuse their voices by singing too high. Practicing just out of reach high notes that are uncomfortable for 10 minutes may not affect the voice, but singing one particularly high note in performance can.

Consider the excitement of singing in front of an audience before choosing repertoire that is too high. You just might get so swept away that you do not notice your own vocal pain.

Yelling or Screeching: My high school choir director always warned us not to scream at upcoming football games. Yelling at the top of your lungs can cause damage, unless you know how to project your voice properly. Even so, when the sound is accompanied by a surge of adrenaline, it is easy to overdo it. Be careful or abstain from events where loud whoops and screams are the norm. Just because others abuse their voice, does not mean you need to.

Speaking and Singing in an Already Loud Environment: Many trendy dance clubs and bars crank the music up so high it is impossible to have a normal conversation. A lot of people try, though, and it is easy to wear out your voice doing so. Instead, find a hallway or spot outside to converse. Those who have to work in a loud environment, such as around paving equipment, airplanes, trains, or lots of traffic have a bigger challenge. Not only will they need to learn to project sound in a way that does not hurt the voice, but they may need to limit their speech. Some might find using a voice amplifier helpful, such as a bullhorn.

Speaking and Singing Around Smoke: Smoke and other harmful airborne fumes can wear down the voice like a burning chemical stings skin. Avoid long term gigs in smoke filled environments. For those who are more sensitive, even one night of singing in a smelly bar could be detrimental. In most cases, however, a little vocal rest will undue any harm done due to one or two night’s exposure to smoke. Though you may be desperate for cash or a singing gig now, things can get worse if you lose your voice.