The strange case of the missing voice

By Bindu Jacob

NEW DELHI, AUG 11. He had been doing it all wrong for quite a while. But panic set in only when he woke up minus his voice one day. Having sung for long for a popular band on a high note, his vocal cord after many warnings finally gave up the ``fight''.

``My vocal cords screamed for mercy. The harder it became to sing, the harder I pushed. The strain was apparent -- and suddenly one day my voice just cracked,'' says Jasmeet Singh of the pop group ``Joshilay''. And that, he adds, was where the guru stepped out and the doctor ``saved the day''.

Says the singer who is now all set to launch his fourth music album: ``The physician helped me identify my voice span and advised me to sing a note lower. Proper rest, correct breathing and daily `riaz' have helped me maintain my voice.''

He is not alone. Many other singers, teachers, radio newsreaders, politicians, housewives and even commoners are increasingly falling under the high-risk category thanks to high pollution levels in the city along with several other factors. ``Constant abuse and overuse, coupled with ignoring the warning signals sent out by the vocal cords like hoarseness of throat, change in voice and excessive dryness are the main causes,'' says Dr. R.C.Deka, Head of the Ear, Nose, Throat Department at the All-India Institute of Medical Science here.

But help is at hand now. Thanks to advancements in medical science, doctors claim they are not as blank about vocal discords as they once used to be. Instruments like video laryngo- stroboscopy which synchronise vibrations of the vocal cords help note vocal discord and pinpoint grey zones.

``It is now possible to advise people on how to use their voice without harming the vocal cords and also how to spread out vocal pressure equally all over to produce the desired voice,'' says Dr. Devinder Rai, ENT consultant surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here.

Medical science aside, here is what top singers do to protect their voice. ``Knowing your voice limits, maintaining strict rest days, keeping away from extreme cold and spicy food helps. But the trick is to listen to your voice, relax, take it easy,'' says popular classical singer Shubha Mudgal. Her favourite remedies for a ``bad voice day'' are honey with pepper, warm water with honey, or ginger tea.

Pop singer Anamika claims she can sing for three hours and still keep going strong. ``Daily riaz for 90 minutes without putting undue strain on the voice is good enough for me,''

she asserts.

For their part, doctors advise 150 to 200 vibrations for men and 200 to 300 for women as the ideal voice range. They caution that long spells of whispering or shouting affect the vocal cords. What worries them now, however, is that unknowingly even the common man is falling prey to the ailment. ``Housewives and young boys increasingly complain of vocal discord, and with the condition going unattended it can lead to serious problems. Irregular eating habits leading to excessive acidity and high pollution levels also affect the vocal cord,'' warns Dr. Deka.

The golden rules as spelt out by the physicians include: Never speak in long sentences or in a loud or suppressed voice for long; keep the throat moist; eat regularly and well; and stay away from junk food.

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