Keeping a Vocal Health Diary

Jenevora Williams 2024

One of the frustrations of having a problem with your voice is not really knowing what is causing it. You may have an idea of some possible irritations, of things you’ve been told, or things you should avoid. It’s often not clear what might be going on in terms of causation. The first step that I often suggest is to keep a diary of everything and anything that may be affecting your voice.

Why?

This will give you a more objective view of your symptoms, patterns, correlations and causes. Knowledge is empowering, awareness is the first step towards agency.

Where?
You choose – it could be notes on your phone or computer. It could be a paper diary.

Phone – It’s probably going to be with you so you can note things as you remember/notice.

Paper diary – This can be special and bespoke. You can put it away and not think about it.

What?

Note anything and everything that will be relevant, Note the time as well as the day.

Inputs:

• How you slept
• What you’re eating/drinking
• How much voice use as you go through each day – speaking and singing

Outputs:

• How are you feeling? Relaxed/worried/tired/preoccupied/contented/overwhelmed/unsure
• How is your voice feeling?
  Cutting out/missing higher range/aching/burning/delayed onset/breathy/husky/weak etc

Test these

• Try an objective measure of your voice symptoms – maybe a score of 0 – 5 for each one
• Assess the pitch at which it cuts out in quiet singing

After a few days you may notice patterns emerging. These may just be correlations, and not necessarily causations. Keep observing, make small changes, anticipate and assess.