Question from a young adult: Have I Done Permanent Vocal Damage?
Ok, so I did something really stupid. I was practicing/experimenting with belting high notes…really really high notes. I don’t remember it hurting, I remember coughing after I did it. The next morning, I woke up with a little tightness in my throat, thought it was just morning vocal stuff, did a little warm up before I went to sing at my job. But the sounds were weaker, and I realized something might have been wrong. People tell me I don’t sound hoarse, but I know that I do sound weaker when I talk. When I swallow, I feel like I’m swallowing lumps, but it doesn’t hurt to talk or swallow. I am so scared I may have done permanent vocal damage, since I depend on my voice for my job. It’s been about 5 days and things haven’t seemed to get better. Have I done any permanent damage? I am so scared. My teacher said to go on vocal rest.
Answer: Pay attention to your teacher who said, “Go on total vocal rest.”
Drink lots of warm liquids, stay away from cold drafts if you can and wear a scarf. If it doesn’t clear up in a few days you should go to a Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor just to be safe.
Sounds like you probably just strained yourself, and your cords are swollen. Definitely don’t sing (especially belting) if you can help it over the next few days.
I very much appreciate your honesty and humility in confessing what you did. You are undoubtedly learning that belting for a prolonged period of time under the best of circumstances is not good for the voice also.
The throat area has comparatively few — in fact very few pain-registering nerve endings, unlike the hands and fingers. So it is possible to do damage to the throat (voice) and not be aware of it. The tightness in your throat, the weaker sound and the “lump” that you feel when you swallow are the body’s signs [like waving red flags!] that you need to pay attention and give your voice complete vocal rest for several days. Rather than continuing to vocalize and resume a ‘normal’ singing routine, I’d advise taking a complete vocal rest until — in another week or so — phonation (making sound) is easy and clear. Continuing to try to force your voice to produce the sound you’re used to hearing under these circumstances could indeed result in long-term damage. The short time of complete silence will allow you a dependable long-term future, versus the opposite.
When your voice has recovered—vocal cords tend to be quite resilient—then begin your vocalizing routine slowly – and under the guidance of your teacher.
The likelihood of you having done permanent damage is small. However if you continued to force your voice to operate under these difficult circumstances the picture could change. A word to the wise . . . Also, stay well hydrated in the recovery process – as well as whenever you are using your voice.
Best wishes to you.
Tags: belting, high notes, hydration, learn how to sing, tight throat, vocal exercises