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Teacher wellbeing

Value your  voice!

As a teacher, your voice is an essential professional tool, yet few teachers have had any vocal training. Phyllida Furse, Development Officer of Voice Care Network UK, has some practical tips for taking care of your voice and addressing any problems.

In any day teachers may interact with challenging students, overloaded colleagues, demanding parents and, once home, their friends, partners, children or pets. This will happen on most days, in any number of environments, whether they feel like it or not. And teachers have the added stress of constantly having to appear as confident, fluent communicators, when they may be feeling anything but.

With lessons effectively resembling a series of performances, teachers are professional voice users over and above actors. As any teacher will tell you: “No voice, no job!” But, unlike actors, teachers generally receive little voice training.

So to save your voice:

 Take a relaxed approach

Tension is the enemy of the voice. A tight neck gives a tight larynx, which gives a tight sound that is as uncomfortable to listen to as it is to produce. So take a relaxed approach both physically and mentally.

Take advantage of any breaks in the day, and schedule time in for rest and relaxation during the busy working week. If possible, take regular exercise. Keeping the body supple and flexible will help keep you mentally supple. The endorphins released will mop up adrenaline, and be a better solution to stress than pills or alcohol.

Stand tall

Stand up straight to improve breath support and give both yourself and your class confidence. Collapsed physical posture compresses the rib cage and reduces the ability to inflate the lungs, generating tension further up. Claim your territory in the classroom and walk forward leading with your legs, not your chin.

Breathe

Breathe deeply and easily before you say something important. Big breaths generate volume and enable you to power the voice from lower down, away from the throat. Focus on where you are sending the sound, so it gets to the intended audience.

Speak clearly, speak less

 Over 60 per cent of what we say is interpreted through consonants. Enunciate clearly and use word endings. Glottal stopping (over-attacking on words starting with a vowel) is not a good way of commanding attention, as it brings your vocal folds forcefully together, which can cause painful inflammation. Clear speech and economical use of words will cut your ‘teacher talking time’ and reduce strain.

Early warning signs

 Signs that there may be a problem include breaks in the voice (sudden stoppages), unexpected changes of pitch (voice all over the place), changes in vocal quality (hoarseness), changes in the body (sore throat), increased effort to talk (voice tires easily), regular loss of voice, and a sensation of a lump in the throat. To prevent problems avoid:

• smoking (if you can’t stop then try to cut down)

• excessive consumption of alcohol, coffee and fizzy drinks, as these can dehydrate you

• medicated lozenges that kill pain – suck non- medicated pastilles instead

• a heavy or spicy meal last thing at night, as this can cause indigestion and acid reflux which inflames the vocal folds

• dairy products, which can cause over- production of mucous

• talking above background noise

 • yelling in answer to someone when you are upset

 • talking in a whisper when your voice starts to go

• coughing unnecessarily.

Referral pathway

 If a problem persists for more than ten days seek help from your GP. Be persistent. Your GP can refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist, who will be able to direct you to a speech and language therapist if appropriate. Alternatively, contact the Voice Care Network UK, who may be able to give you some support straight away.

For more information on how to save your voice and develop your vocal skills, email info@voicecare.org.uk, call 01926 864000 or visit www.voicecare.org.uk.

Top tips for the end of a busy day

• Voice rest – stop talking when you get home!

• Body rest – relax, and try taking a steamy bath.

• Steam the back of the throat to ease pain.

• Gargle with boiled, cooled salty water to reduce pain and fight infection.

• Hydrate by drinking 1.5 litres of water a day.

• Have an early night.

• Take time off if needed to allow inflammation to subside.

• Seek help if a voice problem persists.

Can you help?

Teachers are the largest occupational group seen by speech and language specialists, yet surprisingly little research has taken place to look at the impact of voice quality on schools or teachers themselves. Stuart Burrows, an ear, nose and throat doctor, has put together a short survey looking at the impact of teachers’ voice quality. If you would like to participate, please go to www.surveymonkey. com/s/teachersvoice. Your answers will help assess the level of the problem and plan further studies.