More and more people are having voice issues after Covid. In the next 5 minutes, I am sharing
5 factors affecting vocal health after having covid, and one of them is muscle tension. If
you want access to a blueprint of I help people with vocal tension, let me know in the comments.
Hi, my name is Katarina and I am the founder of Vocal Freedom System for the Speaking Voice,
where I help people reduce tension, strain or even
pain when speaking and get them back to speaking with a strong voice that lasts.
In the next 5 minutes, let me tell you why our voices may be taking longer to
recover from covid. Here are 5 things to consider:
#1 Post-covid viral paresis. Paresis means that the vocal fold is not moving to the centre and
therefore, it is more difficult to produce a clear, non breathy sound. There are more and
more people who have paresis post covid. But it is not easy to spot it because it often
becomes obvious only after a fatiguing vocal task. That’s why it is important to see a laryngologist
for a proper voice assessment, preferably a laryngologist with lots of experience.
#2 Persistent sinusitis and post-nasal drip. A long-lasting inflammation is very typical for
people post covid. Dripping of mucus from the back of the nose can cause coughing or throat clearing,
which are behaviours that can lead to vocal fold swelling. Good nasal hygiene is important in this
case to keep the nasal passages clean with nasal rinses. Or speak to your doctor about
using some medications to keep your nose clean. We also know that laryngitis, or the inflammation
of the vocal folds lasts longer in covid than in other viral infections. A normal cold usually
goes away after a week or two. Laryngitis during covid takes longer. So be patient.
#3 Acid reflux. It seems that there is more people with voice problems due to
acid reflux after covid. That’s because during the sickness, people’s diets change.
There is more stress, less time to cook, less movement. In case of acid reflux,
speak to your doctor about possible solutions but it is important to know that voice problems
due to acid reflux take at least 3 months to resolve, so again patience is important.
#4 Emotional stressors. I feel like this is a very underestimated factor. Emotions can
create a lot of tension around the larynx. And we know that many people experience depression
post covid. Or other mental health issues. It is important not to overlook this factor
and seek professional help. Don’t dismiss it. Emotions can greatly affect the voice and if we
don’t consider emotions when dealing with voice issues, we are not looking at the whole picture.
#5 Muscle tension and muscle tension related voice issues. If voice is
affected during covid and people continue using it either for work or other reasons,
they may push more, squeeze more to produce a clear voice. And if they use their voice in
this way for a prolonged period of time, these inefficient motor patterns can get
ingranined and they can start impacting day to day living. The voice can get tight
or uncomfortable or even painful. The good news is that with the right approach, it is
possible to retrain the voice to work with more efficiency and less impact on the vocal folds.
Ok, if you want a blueprint of how I help my clients get rid of vocal strain, tension or
even pain when speaking so that they can get back to speaking without worrying about their voice,
let me know in the comments below and I’ll send it to you. See you in my next video.