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Keeping Your Voice Young

aging voiceWrinkles, greying hair, continually forgetting just where you left those car keys: just a few of the gifts Father Time likes to pass out as we wrack up our birthdays. While many people are preoccupied with looking young, increasingly people have taken an interest in sounding young as well. Having a robust, commanding voice can be an asset in the professional world and many people seek out the assistance of a speech-language pathologist or vocal coach to help rehabilitate an aging voice.

As we age, all of our muscles tend to weaken. This includes the muscles associated with producing the voice, as well as the vocal chords themselves. Over time, this can cause something known as presbylaryngis, or a loss of vocal quality or strength due to aging. When we produce sound, our vocal folds come together and vibrate. As the vocal chords age, they often thin and weaken, and no longer come together as tightly. This often results in a weak, thin, reedy voice. It also requires the person to use more effort as they speak.

A recent article in AARP discussed how an increasing number of older individuals are choosing to seek voice therapy to address the ravages of aging on the voice. Vocal therapy with a speech-language pathologist can help improve vocal quality and strength, making the voice easier to hear and essentially, “sound younger”. The speech therapist will help to improve breathing techniques to better support the voice and increase volume. In addition, they can provide vocal exercises to strengthen muscles, reduce tension, and increase the closure of the vocal chords.

For information on the New York Based Speech and Accent Reduction services offered by Corporate Speech Solutions please give us a call at 212-308-7725 or visit us on the web at www.corporatespeechsolutions.com

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