Voice/Throat Care for Preachers.

[iceniez]

Originally Posted by Edward Anglin

Do you guys think it would be wrong of me to schedule guest speakers for a whole month?

I've never done such a thing, but I'm wondering if maybe I should.

Not at all ,You should take care of your voice for future use.I'll pray also for your strength and health.

[freeatlast]

Originally Posted by Edward Anglin

Do you guys think it would be wrong of me to schedule guest speakers for a whole month?

I've never done such a thing, but I'm wondering if maybe I should.

Not at all. I know of one in your state that ha d a guest speaker for a year, of course he no longer pastors there.

Do what you must to take care of yourself.

I'm not sure God is pleased with us when we endanger our health, even for the kingdom.

[triumphant1]

Originally Posted by Edward Anglin

Here's the deal.

I have preached at least three times a week for the last 9 years.

That adds up to around 1400 sermons that average around 35 minutes.

That total does not incude personal bible studies.

I am thinking I may have overused my voice.

For the past two months I have struggled mightily with my throat/voice.

It comes and goes in spurts.

However, today it is so bad I can barely speak.

Have you guys ever experienced this?

What do you do to combat it?

A throat specialist told me I was through public speaking because my voice would never recover back when I was evangelizing. Here was the deal, I did scream some and hit what my wife called the high notes. Every time I'd get all worked up and raise to the level I was damaging my vocal cords.

They got so swollen that I was at a whisper most of the time except when I'd go back to "preaching". I eventually started spitting up blood.

A throat specialist in Napa CA. told me that my vocal chords were damaged to the point that my public speaking days were over because of calluses...but God touched me and I'm still at it 16 years later. The doctor (and some personal research) gave me some pointers as to not put myself back into that position after healing.

Your vocal cords are most likely swollen and cannot close completely causing the "whisper" sound and inability to speak. When the swelling goes down a little your voice comes back. You may have developed nodules but only a Dr. exam can confirm that. If it is just an issue of swelling here are some tips:

1. Drink a ton of water before preaching--even if it means a trip to the bathroom before the offering. What oil is to a motor, water is to the vocal cords.

2. Stay away from spicy foods. Hot spice causes the vocal cords to swell even more and also causes acid reflux at night.

3. Always have water beside your bed at night...drink, drink, drink. If heartburn comes up (acid reflux) wash your throat thoroughly.

4. Stay off the high notes. Every voice has a "key" just like strings on an instrument. Go to a piano and speak in your natural, comfortable speaking voice. This may take some practice and help from someone gifted with music and tone recognition but find where your voice is on the register (you might start with middle C and go from there. Then determine your "comfortable range". As the pitch of your speaking voice goes up while raising your voice, determine where it begins to stretch (here is where you must back off from) and train yourself to stay off of the harmful ranges!

5. Avoid whispering. Whispering causes the vocal cords to rapidly beat each other and is worse that forcing out the sound!! Speaking in a whisper will make the cords swell more!

6. Change your preaching style. This goes back to the high note deal! My wife learned to recognize when I'd raise the pitch of my voice too high and would give me "the signal". Ultimately I found a preaching style that goes nowhere near the harmful range and I never have a vocal problem because of speaking or singing.

7. Avoid speaking when you can to give your cords a break...and drink water!!

8. Avoid caffeine for at least 4 hours before preaching. Caffeine is a dehydrator. It will dry the vocal cords out. I would drink Dr. Pepper all the way up to service time...bad idea! Oh yeah, drink even more water if on Sunday morning you have to have coffee.

9. Use water in the pulpit!! Don't be afraid to stop and "oil" the pipes!

I hope this helps.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by triumphant1

A throat specialist told me I was through public speaking because my voice would never recover back when I was evangelizing. Here was the deal, I did scream some and hit what my wife called the high notes. Every time I'd get all worked up and raise to the level I was damaging my vocal cords.

They got so swollen that I was at a whisper most of the time except when I'd go back to "preaching". I eventually started spitting up blood.

A throat specialist in Napa CA. told me that my vocal chords were damaged to the point that my public speaking days were over because of calluses...but God touched me and I'm still at it 16 years later. The doctor (and some personal research) gave me some pointers as to not put myself back into that position after healing.

Your vocal cords are most likely swollen and cannot close completely causing the "whisper" sound and inability to speak. When the swelling goes down a little your voice comes back. You may have developed nodules but only a Dr. exam can confirm that. If it is just an issue of swelling here are some tips:

1. Drink a ton of water before preaching--even if it means a trip to the bathroom before the offering. What oil is to a motor, water is to the vocal cords.

2. Stay away from spicy foods. Hot spice causes the vocal cords to swell even more and also causes acid reflux at night.

3. Always have water beside your bed at night...drink, drink, drink. If heartburn comes up (acid reflux) wash your throat thoroughly.

4. Stay off the high notes. Every voice has a "key" just like strings on an instrument. Go to a piano and speak in your natural, comfortable speaking voice. This may take some practice and help from someone gifted with music and tone recognition but find where your voice is on the register (you might start with middle C and go from there. Then determine your "comfortable range". As the pitch of your speaking voice goes up while raising your voice, determine where it begins to stretch (here is where you must back off from) and train yourself to stay off of the harmful ranges!

5. Avoid whispering. Whispering causes the vocal cords to rapidly beat each other and is worse that forcing out the sound!! Speaking in a whisper will make the cords swell more!

6. Change your preaching style. This goes back to the high note deal! My wife learned to recognize when I'd raise the pitch of my voice too high and would give me "the signal". Ultimately I found a preaching style that goes nowhere near the harmful range and I never have a vocal problem because of speaking or singing.

7. Avoid speaking when you can to give your cords a break...and drink water!!

8. Avoid caffeine for at least 4 hours before preaching. Caffeine is a dehydrator. It will dry the vocal cords out. I would drink Dr. Pepper all the way up to service time...bad idea! Oh yeah, drink even more water if on Sunday morning you have to have coffee.

9. Use water in the pulpit!! Don't be afraid to stop and "oil" the pipes!

I hope this helps.

Great post!!!!! All of the above applies to singers as well. Also, never drink ice cold water while you are singing or preaching, (after your vocal cords are already warmed up.) I see preachers do it all the time, keeping a glass of ice cold water at the pulpit. It needs to be room temperature. (Or even slightly warm, if you can handle it.)

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Great post!!!!! All of the above applies to singers as well. Also, never drink ice cold water while you are singing or preaching, (after your vocal cords are already warmed up.) I see preachers do it all the time, keeping a glass of ice cold water at the pulpit. It needs to be room temperature. (Or even slightly warm, if you can handle it.)

#2--Yeaaaaahh Riiiight!!!!!! Ain't gonna happen, and why would I listen to anyone who had a hair-cutting party????

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Monkeyman

#2--Yeaaaaahh Riiiight!!!!!! Ain't gonna happen, and why would I listen to anyone who had a hair-cutting party????

Me, either! I LOVE spicy foods.

P.S. Mostly unrelated news blurb: To anyone who lives in Springfield, MO--if you haven't tried Thai House (I think it's on Campbell Pkwy), DO IT! I suggest the Panang Curry with chicken, followed with some coconut ice cream. (I was there last week--and it's a great place to eat!) The dinner portion is enough to feed two people.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Me, either! I LOVE spicy foods.

P.S. Mostly unrelated news blurb: To anyone who lives in Springfield, MO--if you haven't tried Thai House (I think it's on Campbell Pkwy), DO IT! I suggest the Panang Curry with chicken, followed with some coconut ice cream. (I was there last week--and it's a great place to eat!) The dinner portion is enough to feed two people.

I go to Springfield several times a year - I'll check it out. I have tried and enjoyed the Japaneese joint that is close to Battlefield Mall.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

I go to Springfield several times a year - I'll check it out. I have tried and enjoyed the Japaneese joint that is close to Battlefield Mall.

Was it Nakuto? There are couple different Japanese steakhouses. I tried to get Jeff to go, but he was in a frugal frame of mind, so it was a no-go.

[EA]

Thanks for the good advice, folks.

I set an appointment with the doctor for Wednesday.

Meanwhile, I have decided that I am going to invite guest speakers in for the next little while.

Pray for me, because I'm not used to the whole "sickly" thing.

I really like preaching in my pulpit.

And Prax, I don't have any other preachers in the church to help me, yet.

Oh, and Free will tell you, I'm really not a screamer at all.

[freeatlast]

Originally Posted by Edward Anglin

Thanks for the good advice, folks.

I set an appointment with the doctor for Wednesday.

Meanwhile, I have decided that I am going to invite guest speakers in for the next little while.

Pray for me, because I'm not used to the whole "sickly" thing.

I really like preaching in my pulpit.

And Prax, I don't have any other preachers in the church to help me, yet.

Oh, and Free will tell you, I'm really not a screamer at all.

True Dat...Ed has a very nice delivery and preaches a good message, at least the one time we were privileged to hear him.

I do not enjoy screamers. I don't how those fellows voice's last at all or the ears of those who endure their yellin'