Many of us take our instrument for granted. As voice actors, we’ve become used to opening our mouths and producing our work product almost reflexively, often without a second thought to the very real danger of strain, stress, or vocal failure.

Voice health issues arise from a variety of causes, including medical issues, performance stress, poor self-care, environmental issues, and even genetics. We can’t control all of these things, but we can learn from those who have suffered the devastating effects of losing their voice, and adapt our behaviors as much as possible to avoid similar struggles and be aware of the warning signs.

In a forthcoming series of articles I will visit with talent who have experienced vocal health issues to discuss their experiences, and talk with some leading vocal health experts on how to best prevent and prepare for vocal health challenges.

Stay tuned!