Guide to Vocology

It is estimated that 3 to 10 percent of Americans experience voice problems at any given moment in time. The cumulative frequency over the lifespan is much larger. Assaults from the environment such as pollution, sudden changes in humidity, or exposure to pharmacological agents can make vocal fold tissues irritated or vulnerable to damage. In other cases, disease or trauma impairs the vocal folds, larynx, or surrounding tissues. Genetic factors also play a role; some individuals’ vocal folds appear to be naturally more robust than others. Finally, lifestyle choices are significant. About 25 percent of the population engages in work that is vocally demanding. For these individuals, either their jobs require excessive vocalization or their work environments force them to speak above a high noise level.