Have I damaged my singing voice?

Damaged singing voice?

• I was singing and i think i "damaged" my voice? Every time i talk for a few seconds straight my throat seems to sting in a way, like kind of deep in my throat. It may be just a temporary thing, may go away in a few days, im not sure. It may be nothing at all but i thought i'd ask. SO let me know what you think?

• Answer:

  Sounds to me like you strained your voice. this can happen for a number of reasons: 1) You simply sang too loud, or too long, or both. 2) You aren't singing properly. This has a number of factors within it; it could be your posture when you sing; it could be your breathing (which should utilize your diaphragm, otherwise you WILL damage your voice); you may be singing notes that are out of your range; or, you may not have warmed up properly or enough. For the next few days try not to sing, and talk as little as possible. This is called "vocal rest," and if you want an excuse for not talking please visit your doctor and inquire about if you may have a doctor's note for it. If you do visit a doctor, have them examine your larynx (the strings in your throat that wobble when you sing and produce pitch) so that you can have a clearer determination of what it is. if you do not seek medical attention, then just go easy on your voice; drink hot tea or drink hot water. Stay away from cold foods or drinks as they are bad for your throat when it is injured. You can have ice cream and stuff, but don't have more than 2 cold objects a day. It would be better to just avoid them, but if you can't, please limit it. If the pain persists, then you WILL need to seek medical attention immediately to save your voice from further damage. I'd give it about 4 or 5 days, 7 at the MOST, and if your throat still hurts then PLEASE go to a doctor. Remember, our voices are more fragile than instruments because if we damage our vocal cords, we can't replace them like instrumentalists can. And it may not be that you hirt your vocal cords on purpose or accident; if you have bad allergies, then sinus drainage can get stuck on your vocal cords, and when you sing like that it can cause pain. Try massaging your throat softly; dont push, just gently move your hand in a circular motion. then swallow. its nasty, but it gets rid of drainage. Also, some illnesses can cause throat pain too, so it would probably be a wise desicion to seek out the help of a doctor. Once again, though, whether or not you decide to seek medical attention is your desicion alone; it may be that you simply strained your voice, and if so, just relax and dont talk or yell much if possible, and avoid singing if you can. if it is strain, then the pain should go away by the end of the 4-5, 7 day period. ^^ Good luck, and hope your voice heals quickly!