The musical instrument

It will generate individual processes that end up being one. These are breathing (inspiration-expiration), emission, articulation and resonance. Like any tool that works with air and under the laws of acoustics work through:

A respiratory bellows

Is the energy source or air, the root of the sound. The key element is the respiratory bellows consist of the airways, nasal cavities, ducts, pharynx, larynx (or vocal folds), trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, pleura, lobes and diaphragm.

Importantly, the diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle that has a role in respiration and in support of sound accompanied by other intercostal and abdominal muscles are connected to the abdominal wall, lumbar vertebrae, lower ribs, sternum pericardium and tendon tissue of the heart. The thin diaphragm creates a division between the thoracic and abdominal cavity. When it gets down to a flat position, this smoothing causes a vacuum in the chest cavity and abdominal cavity pressure. The void is filled with the expansion of lung tissue and inhaled air. When the diaphragm relaxes and takes a dome shape, the air is expelled and the lungs contract.

A vibrator

Sound is produced after the passage of air whose elements are the tube-shaped larynx, vocal folds or parallel to the ground and attached to the thyroid and arytenoid cartilages. In the case of men are behind the nut or apple called Adam and the glottis, the opening between two strings. The vocal folds are those that produce the sound to come together and vibrate as true elastic bodies, which inner lips. Researchers have reported that when the vocal cords produce high-pitched sounds have higher tension, stretch and lengthen. In contrast to the serious issue of these folds are less tight and remain separate during inspiration.

A set of resonators

The structures are all found above the neck as a speaker. At resonance affects the jaw, sinuses, craniofacial system, uvula, hard palate and soft palate.

A joint process

Been a material change of sound in which each vowel and consonant has a specific location with the involvement of the teeth, tongue and lips.

Visit foniatra

The speech therapy is the branch of Rehabilitation Medicine in charge of the pathology of human communication, through the restoration of functional abilities according to the needs and possibilities of the patient and the environment in which it unfolds.

Milena Lopez, medical speech pathologist, said that the act of phonation is to use wisely the sound produced in the vocal cords by the momentum of the expiratory air pressure, controlled, extended, modulated and articulated in resonant cavities and influenced by the hearing, the endocrine level, emotional states, the will and the environment.

Notes that this definition corresponds to the voice as a functional system for communication, for speech and for the highest externalities (singing, drama, public speaking, radio)

Lopez describes the steps in a speech therapy consultation:

• general physical examination with emphasis on pneumofonoarticulatorio system. At this stage of writing the particular medical history.

• Assessment of biological respiration and breathing with fonatorios.En for this level is important to evaluate the position taken in different situations: speaking, reading and singing in order to observe the pressures associated body in the face, jaw, lips, trunk, hands and feet.

• Review of the ENT area, through the examination of the ears, nose and oral cavity including the consideration of the issuer level through indirect laryngoscopy, flexible nasofiberoptic evaluation or endoscopy, rigid endoscopy epifaringolaringoscopia or flicker.

• Study of the hearing by giving tone audiometry, and in special cases, other tests.

• Review of fixed and mobile bodies of the joint for integrity, mobility and muscle tone as well, and most important, temporomandibular joint, swallowing pattern, bite, molds vowel points and modes of articulation consonant sounds.

Lopez points out that according to the results of the evaluation patterns emerge for proper vocal hygiene control ranging from respiratory rehabilitation as a prophylactic action of the issuing body pathology to rehabilitation for therapeutic purposes.

He adds that the voices in the professional category (users select and special), composed of speakers, singers, actors and teachers is of paramount importance and regular evaluation phoniatric working together with other specialists to establish requirements based on vocal the potential physical and psychological needs, and ensure the longevity of the voice is the highest aspiration of these users.

The most common pathologies

Are considered diseases of the voice to those that modify or alter the acoustic qualities of voice (intensity, pitch and timbre). Can be many causes, from functional to organic, systemic or neurological. Swelling (edema), respiratory diseases (asthma), endocrine diseases. The most common cause is misuse of the voice, screaming, vocal effort, excessive vocalization, hitting glottal, throat clearing, cough and psychological disorders. Symptoms and pathologies observed are:

• Dysphonia: Can be a symptom of disease or non-voice vocal base.
• Hoarseness: Temporary loss of voice
• hiatus Hiatus or throat: An area that is abnormally wide space between the vocal cords to close to broadcast voice, so that the voice is emitted from a blown.

• Nodules: formed in the anterior two thirds of the vocal cords are always bilateral, to last longer, produce vascular congestion, submucosal edema and hemorrhage.

• Polyps: They are seen in people who abuse their voice, in patients with anticoagulant medication, hypothyroidism, or may be of inflammatory, allergic, immunological or traumatic.

• intracordal cysts.
• chronic or acute infections.
• Gastric Reflux: When stomach acid up through the esophagus and burn and irritate the vocal cords and other structures with the possibility of generating Reinke’s edema, contact ulcer or granuloma.

• Reduction of the vibration of the vocal cords.

Voice therapy

It is done with the purpose of knowing and rehabilitate the vocal instrument becoming more conscious acts of breathing and speaking. The speech therapist and voice coach Maria Elena Lander explains that during the sessions the patient is encouraged to control their vocal hygiene habits and inadequate.

Lander explains that the goals of speech therapy sessions are:

• Exercise the muscles involved (face, tongue with 17 muscles, mouth, neck, etc.) and detect whether they are using unnecessary muscles in the act of playing.

• Identify inappropriate body positions to eliminate them, teach or reinforce appropriate (consciousness of the body).

• Relearning to breathe correctly (cost-diaphragmatic breathing).
• Teach Fonar (produce voice, talk) coordinating muscles, breathing and whole body and bring it to the context in which the issuer. Part of the vocal instrument is the acoustics of the place where we talk or sing.

• Create the habit of listening to the voice and broadcast in the tone and intensity more optimal for the patient. Hearing allows us to hear specific sounds to control the features of the voice.

• Educate and provide techniques for the voice sounds in a more healthy, natural and beautiful, and the articulation of vowels and consonants are emitted.

Lander explains that it is important to work in front of the mirror so the patient can be seen, awareness and initiate a change of habits. Finally reported that in some cases it is important intervention of psychologists and psychiatrists in view of that speech and singing involve our perception of ourselves and the environment, stage fright, personality, character, among other factors.

Healthy body healthy voice

Medical specialists and speech therapists suggest:

• To ensure our overall health.
• Getting enough sleep, seven to eight hours.
• Make a balanced diet and natural. Avoid foods very tart, acidic or spicy foods can be given that stimulate stomach acid and go to the larynx, irritating and damaging the vocal tissue.

• Drink plenty of water, avoid excessive consumption of soft drinks, alcoholic, very cold or very hot. It is advisable to drink six to eight glasses of water daily, one or two glasses of juice.

• Avoid abuse of snuff or cigarettes, because these substances irritate and dehydrate the vocal cords and reduces respiratory capacity.

• Perform breathing exercises and regular sports. Preferably swimming because it involves breathing and coordination.

• Inhale through your nose and avoid it by mouth.
• Learn to recognize and handle our emotions.
• Perform regular checks phoniatric.
• Practice disciplines such as martial arts, yoga or tai chi, as well as treatments with alternative therapies like acupuncture because they help restore the overall balance of the body, promote relaxation and overall health.

• Avoid throat clearing throat clearing or strongly
• Eliminate or shouts and screams too much force on the issue because they are ways to force the voice and can increase the possibility of dysphonia. Avoid vocal attack.

• Project your voice to reach the desired point without having to shout, rather raising or lowering the volume.

Gymnastics for the voice

• Perform exercises in voice inflection.
• Read aloud short texts containing moderate interrogative sentences, negations, admiration.

• Breathe through your nose and then talk. Slow to speak and take a breath in deeply.

• Humming tunes.
• Project voice with a relaxed attitude and a good breathing pattern.
• Do breathing exercises. Is done in three blocks: those of biological respiration (just as inspiration and expiration abdominal diaphragmatic’re standing and lying). The issue respirators issuing a s, and breathing with vocals in which loop after issuing inspire pure vowels are spoken or sung considering what their placement and position inside the mouth. The more front vowel i, e i close to the more central, or behind it and u the one with the most rearward location and depth.