Demystifying Vocal Hygiene: Considerations for Professional Voice Users

Purpose of Review Discuss current literature and clinical experience related to vocal hygiene, with special consideration for the professional and performing voice user. Recent Findings Use and non-use-related vocal hygiene factors that may impact professional and performing voice users include hydration, laryngeal irritants, phonotrauma, and voice rest. Key considerations include monitoring both systemic and surface hydration, maintaining awareness of key signs and symptoms of reflux, avoiding phonotraumatic patterns and/or learning to pace voice use when high-impact vocal behaviors are required. Complete voice rest is better suited to treat acute injury and not practical for day-to-day vocal management. Summary Vocal hygiene is one tool within voice therapy that plays a key role in vocal injury prevention and rehabilitation when paired with direct voice therapy. Vocal hygiene education should be individualized, guided by the tenants of meta-therapy and motivational interviewing to increase self-efficacy for change and adherence to recommendations.