How can I reverse/prevent this voice damage?
Hello there... I am a singer. I have worked with many voice teachers over the years, and not once have I been told I had bad technique. The only thing I can see that would have damaged my voice is a period of time over the summer where I performed in a show where I had to scream in one scene, so I practiced that many times. But I haven't noticed anything until last Friday- I started developing a bad cough. The cough turned to laryngitis and being otherwise hoarse- when I sing it sounds horrible as well as I not being able to hit several notes I could two weeks ago, and my throat hurts all the time.
I'm worried this isn't just a cough and is in fact vocal damage. How would I know the difference? And whether this is a cough or voice damage, how can I get it back to normal in time for a show that's on the 15th and 16th?
Thanks so much for your help.
How can I reverse/prevent this voice damage?theater seatingYou can stop worrying about "vocal damage", as your laryngeal problems are most likely due to the coughing and singing with swollen vocal cords. The screaming effects must certainly will have been gone by now.
What is happening is you've set up the vicious cycle of voice abuse. Hoarseness is due to swollen vocal cords, and singing only makes it worse.
You can get your speaking voice back in a couple of weeks with strict voice rest. No coughing (drink room temperature fluids instead), yelling, screaming, throat-clearing (more fluid), loud whispering, humming, or singing. Talk as little as possible.
I wouldn't sing for about a month, even after the hoarseness subsides.
I seriously doubt you will have your voice back in any recognizable way by the 15th or 16th; sorry.
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