Whose Voice is This?

Please Note: This is for informational purposes only.  It should not be taken as medical advice or used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  You should always consult with your own physician before implementing this information.

I always thought I had a decent voice that could hold its own. No one has ever complained about my singing.

Recently I had the pleasure of traveling to South Korea. One of my Korean friends wanted to introduced me to Karaoke. Evidently this is an Asian thing and I was all in for a new experience.

Mind you, I haven’t sung into a microphone since I was young. So, when I was handed my own mic, I felt a thrill of excitement. Since I sing every day, in my car, I felt confident that I could hold a tune. My friend cued up the song I chose. I was ready to let loose and turn into that long-lost idea of being a signer.

The lights in the karaoke room dimmed, disco lights cued, and the screen in front of me started scrolling large printed words to the song.

I took in a deep breath down in my belly remembering to use my stomach muscles. Then I release air that began to flow past my vocal cords producing a noise that streamed into the microphone.

As I sang, my ears detected an unfamiliar voice coming across the speakers. I looked at my friends in the tiny room wondering who was stealing my show, but no one had a mic up to their mouth.

My voice wavered at a couple of words so I pushed out more air to steady the sound. I was dumbfounded. What I heard was a deep, raspy, and at times off key sound. Whose voice was this!

Politely and respectfully my friends patiently waited for me as I struggled through the song that I thought I knew and could sing just as well as the artist themselves. What happened to my voice!

I felt like Lucile Ball in one of her TV shows where she’s singing at the top of her lungs and then realizes that Ricky and Ethel are staring at her. “What? Oh, I know, my voice isn’t as good as it used to be!” Then Ethel and Ricky say, “Used to be?”

After the embarrassing display of my “old lady” singing, I sat back and enjoyed the younger voices finishing out the Karaoke session. Several times they encouraged me to join in but I just didn’t have in me to cause them further pain with this ridiculous voice of mine!

Now days, my vocal aspirations don’t go further than the confines of my automobile where there are no worries of being critiqued by the Shower and Car Singing Association. So, if you’re in the car with me, bring your ear plugs! Just saying.

What happened to my voice? Of course, I started asking questions and searching about this phenomenon that I had experienced.

A person’s voice involves three systems including the larynx, or the voice box, the vocal folds, also known as the vocal cords, and air pressure system, or the breathing mechanism.

Female vocal cords become thicker as they age. The vocal folds in aging men become thinner. For women the thickening typically produces a deeper sound that is usually noticed in their fifties. Men? Maybe they can start signing soprano!

The other change is the amount of air a person can push past the vocal cords. As a woman ages, there is a change in the breath support and tissue elasticity. Yes, this is related to the hormonal changes that us women experience with the estrogen decrease.

Fun times.

My next question was, how can I improve my voice? Most likely I will never get that nice young voice back but I certainly can boost my “vocal hygiene”. Interventions like drinking more water to stay hydrated, this will help keep my larynx and vocal cords lubricated allowing them to vibrate to their max. Plus, water is just good all-around for the body.

Monitor for acid reflux which can cause vocal fatigue and change the voice quality. Avoid acidic foods that can cause Acid reflux. If this is an ongoing problem then please see your physician about it. If this condition is left unaddressed, eventually it can lead to esophageal inflammation, ulcers, narrowing of the esophagus, and a precancerous condition called Barrett’s esophagus.

Limit throat clearing. I think most of us clear our throat by coughing but this too can put a strain on the vocal cords by slamming the folds together violently and causing inflammation, swelling, and irritation. This leads to hoarseness and reduced vocal range. With chronic coughing a person can be at risk for injuries like nodules, polyps, or hemorrhages. 

Of course, avoid smoking.

Perform daily vocal exercises such as humming or siren sounds to prevent atrophy. Or like I do, sing in the car or in the shower!

My voice may not be what it used to be, but thankfully I still have a voice and can express myself vocally when needed.

Thinking back on that day of my karaoke experience, I am reminded about my grandma who I used to sit next to in church. Despite her old lady’s voice that was off key at times, she always sang with gusto expressing her joy and happiness through singing. Good memories and a good reminder that I don’t need to be a professional singer to express my feelings through a song.

So, keep on singing. Who cares what it sounds like. As long as it makes you happy then it’s all good.

“Those who wish to sing always find a song.” — Swedish Proverb

Image by Deagreez on iStock

Gwen