In this video, let’s talk about the way we use our voices on Zoom or other online
platforms.
How is it different from talking face-to-face?
Why do our voices get tired easily or even why do we lose our voice when talking online?
I will be answering all these questions plus I will give you 5 tips on how to avoid vocal
problems when speaking online.
Stick around.
Hi!
I am Katarina, speech language pathologist and here on this channel, I share practical
tips about using your voice in a healthy way.
So, if this is a topic that interests you, consider subscribing to this channel and hitting
that bell notification icon so that you don’t miss any of my future videos.
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are on video calls more than ever before.
And our voices suffer.
This is an example of messages I get on a regular basis: “I lose my voice by the end
of the day every single day.
This is my first year working online, and I've never had this problem with in-person
services.
I'm working with students in their homes and I'm having to talk so much louder.
Any tips or ideas would be amazing!”
If you are experiencing similar difficulties, simply write “me” in the comments below.
You are definitely not alone!
I had a very similar experience after the first few days of working online in April
2020.
My voice was tired and hoarse in the evening and I did not have energy to talk to my family
by the end of the day.
But because I use my voice for work, I had to figure out why this was happening to me
and what to do about it.
More than a year later, we know much more about using our voices on video conferencing
platforms and how to protect them from vocal problems.
So, the first question is: Is using your voice on video-conferencing platforms harder than
in-person communication?
I am not sure if it is harder but for many of us it is a new way of communication that
we need to learn how to do efficiently.
The truth is that we use our voices differently in different environments or with different
communication partners.
Your voice is different when you speak to your boss and when you talk to a toddler.
And it is also true for using your voice online and offline.
There are several differences between an online conversation and in-person conversation.
A video call requires more focus than a face-to-face chat because we are missing a lot of non-verbal
cues like facial expressions, voice cues, or body language.
Whenever we feel that our listener is not understanding what we are saying, we increase
our vocal effort and often even raise the volume of our voice, which puts strain on
the voice if you do it for a long time.
Very often we compete with background noise either of the environment we are in or our
listener is in.
Now, take for example that you are on a group call where every participant is in their home
environment with kids crying, dogs barking and neighbours cutting the grass exactly at
the time of your conference call.
You reflexively raise your voice to be heard over that noise.
This is a reflex that kicks in even during personal communication, for example in loud
restaurants or noisy pubs.
This is a natural reflex of a speaker to increase their vocal effort when speaking in loud noise
to enhance the audibility of their voice.
We all do it but it happens much more often on video calls.
Another reason why we raise our vocal effort on Zoom is something I’ve heard about recently.
It is the fact that when we see our communication partners on a monitor in a tiny window, our
brain interprets it as the person being far away.
What do you do when a person is far away?
You naturally raise the volume of your voice.
The number of people on the Zoom call may also trigger the use of more vocal effort
or a louder speech.
The illusion of talking to a group of people may make you start speaking up and projecting
your voice more.
Our brain simply thinks that a bigger group requires more volume.
And add to it the stress from being watched on the monitor by other people on the call.
I am sure you have experienced it yourself.
The pressure is on and this of course causes more strain and constriction in our throats.
It is nerve-wracking and more stressful to watch yourself on the monitor and being watched
by other people.
Lastly, we use Zoom for many different purposes, not just work.
I personally went to a virtual birthday party, funeral, graduation, Christmas celebration,
even Halloween party.
I meet with my friends online on a regular basis, I talk to my family through virtual
apps and platforms.
I talk to teachers of my kids and even my family doctor.
There is barely any separation between work and life outside of work.
In the end, we use online communication non-stop and it is very hard to set boundaries to how
much we use our voices in person and online.
We no longer have that downtime between meetings to allow our voices to rest, whether it’s
a commute, water break or just walking between meeting spaces.
So, what can we do to protect our voices from getting vocally tired and to avoid losing
it after talking on Zoom?
Here are 5 tips to maintain your voice healthy and happy.
Tip #1 Be mindful of the loudness of your own voice
Now that you know all the triggers that may cause you to raise your voice, become aware
of how loud you are talking.
There is no need to project your voice.
If people cannot hear you adjust the settings on your mic or ask them to increase volume
on their end.
You can still be animated and involved in the conversation while keeping your volume
at a normal conversational level.
Use gestures to get your point across to help people understand what you are saying.
If you are experiencing vocal strain, tension or even pain when speaking, and you are ready
to work towards a free, strong and confident voice, you can apply to our Vocal Freedom
System coaching program.
Check out the links in the description below this video.
Tip #2 Schedule vocal rests If possible, limit the time you spend on video
calls.
Don’t talk online all day long.
Schedule periods of time where you engage in quiet activities, like writing emails or
reading documents.
Finding time to rest your voice will go a long way to maintaining good vocal health.
Also schedule transition periods between video meetings.
During these breaks, have a drink of water, move around, stretch your body, massage your
larynx, close your eyes and do a short breathing or mindfulness exercise.
Having boundaries between work and private lives is important.
It may be challenging but it is possible.
Tip #3 Use a good mic All our laptops and computers have built-in
microphones and speakers.
For the most part these tools work just fine, but it is a good idea to invest in a good
microphone or an audio system that can help prevent vocal strain.
I have an external mic and it makes my life so much easier.
Tips #4 Use your whole body when speaking The muscles in your larynx are very small.
Don’t rely solely on them.
Engage the big body muscles and muscles of your head and neck to provide a stable framework
and support for your voice.
When you are talking to your boss in person, your body is not relaxed.
So don’t speak from a relaxed body when you are on Zoom.
Improve your posture, align your body well and maintain that muscle engagement to prevent
vocal fatigue.
Tip #5 Release tension after you speak on Zoom
If you start feeling that your voice is getting tired or weak, release tension from your voice
either with gentle SOVT exercises or with a manual self-massage.
Release tension that has accumulated in your voice with these simple techniques that are
very effective and take only a few minutes.
SOVT exercises are simple vocal exercises that anyone can do, such as straw exercises,
humming, lip trills or other vocal exercises.
Laryngeal self-massage is a quick way to reposition your voice box and give it a boost of energy.
My channel has a lot of videos on these topics so check them out.
I also made a video, in which I walk you through 7 steps that lead to a strong voice without
tension.
If you want to know what voice, body and mind considerations you need to take to truly free
your voice, click the link in the description below this video.
If you found this video helpful, click the like button and share it with your friends.
Check out the video on how to do laryngeal self-massage.
I hope to see you soon.
Bye.