Our goal is to provide you with the resources and training solutions to establish and consistently support communication in sync" with the ever-changing pace of creative business growth. 

Always speak using your natural voice.  

“Most voice disorders can be prevented.”

Establish a pro-active approach to professional voice care.

It’s good business!”

Voice ergonomics®

Implement Your
Program for Occupational Voice

Tips for Business 

  Healthy Voice       GERD    Water  Noise 
Listening Habits    Speaking Skills

Tips for a Healthy Voice

·         Always speak using your natural voice.

·         Do not hold your breath.  Speak on lots of air.

·         Avoid talking in loud settings.  Use the lower end of your loudness range.

·         Do not talk with a scratchy or gravel-like quality.

·         Do not "punch" your words or "chop up"
your phrases.

·         Drink at least eight 8 oz. glasses of water a day.

·         Drink no more than 2 cups of caffeine a day and no more than 1 glass of acidic juice.

·         Exercise, eat well, and rest.  Your voice reflects your physical, well-being.

 

 

Gastroesophageal Reflux Information for Voice Athletes.

GERD is an enemy to the Voice Athlete. It creates two problems for the professional voice.

1. A medical problem. (Addressed by your doctor or  preferably your ENT)

2. A mechanical problem of negative laryngeal muscle patterns during voice use which compromise vocal strength, endurance, quality and effectiveness. (Addressed with Direct Vocal Rehabilitation and a Voice Ergonomics® program designed for your type of daily professional voice use, by a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in voice)

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) is a common condition of millions, in which the stomach acid leaks out of the stomach and up into the esophagus and throat. When this acid irritates the throat, it also can irritate the vocal cord area. This can cause many symptoms and even muscle spasms in the throat. 

Common Symptoms of GERD 

1. Burning in the laryngeal area 

2. Coughing (non-productive 

3. Hoarseness (worse in the am) 

4. Bad taste in mouth/bad breath 

5. Aspiration (choking) 

6. Soreness in the laryngeal area tissue near back of vocal cords

7. Throat clearing (increases after eating)

8. Excessive mucous production

9. Lump in the throat feeling

10. Reddening of vocal cords, swollen 

Reflux usually occurs at night when sleeping. When we sleep the stomach muscles and esophagus relax and open slightly. This can allow some of the acid in the stomach to travel from the stomach to the esophagus and irritate the back of the throat where the vocal cords sit. 

Suggestions to eliminate symptoms of reflux

Follow the instructions of your physician regarding prescription medication. Medications commonly used are Axid, Nexium, Prilosec, Pepcid, Propulsid, Protonix and Zantac. Do not stop taking these medications until your doctor instructs you to do so. Your doctor may also tell you to take over-the-counter antacids such as Tums, Rolaid, Maalox, or Mylanta. Consult your doctor if GERD occurs as frequently as 2x per wk.

1. Change your diet
1. Learn to eat more small meals instead of 1 or 2 large meals.
2. Do not eat 3-4 hours before going to bed or lying down.
3. Avoid smoking or tobacco, caffeine and alcohol
4. Avoid chocolate, mints, nuts and bananas.
5. Limit dairy product consumption, especially late at night.
6. Limit spicy, fried, or highly acid foods, especially late at night.
7. Drink at least six 8 oz glasses of water each day.
8. Avoid foods that cause heartburn or indigestion (e.g. tomatoes).
2. Change your behavior / environment
1. Sleep elevated. Place blocks under the head of your bed or use a wedge pillow. Most people experience a reduction of symptoms when bed is elevated 6-12 inches.
2. Don't wear clothing tight around the waist. This 
   encourages reflux.
3. Do not eat 3-4 hours before going to bed at night.
4. Reduce stress. Exercise regularly.
5. Do not exercise or lift heavy items immediately after eating. 

Contact us for more information. 

 

The Benefits of Water 

Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

1. Research indicates that Drinking 8 – 8 oz. glasses of water a day are important to keep the vocal
   cords hydrated.

2. Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

3. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

4. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

5. Even MILD dehydration can slow down one's metabolism by 3%. 

6. One glass of water shuts down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100%of the dieters studied in a U-Washington study.

7. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

8. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

9. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer. 

Contact us for more information. 

 

Noise Levels & Hearing Conservation

Both the amount of noise and the length of time you are exposed to the noise determine the ability to damage your hearing. Noise levels are measured in decibels (dB). The higher the decibel level, the louder the noise. Sounds louder than 80 dB are considered potentially hazardous. The noise chart below gives an idea of average dB levels for everyday sounds around you. Take care of your hearing at home and
at work. 

Painful: 
150 dB = rock music peak
140 dB = firearms, air raid sirens, jet engine
130 dB = jackhammer
120 dB = jet plane take-off, amplified rock music at 4 – 6 ft., car stereo, band practice
Extremely Loud:
110 dB = rock music, model airplane
106 dB = timpani and bass drum rolls
100 dB = snowmobile, chain saw, pneumatic drill
90 dB = lawnmower, shop tools, truck traffic, subway
Very Loud:
80 dB = alarm clock, busy street
70 dB = busy traffic, vacuum leaner
60 dB = conversation, dishwasher
Moderate:
50 dB = moderate rainfall
40 dB = quiet room
Faint:
30 dB = whisper, quiet library

Warning Signs of Hazardous Noise

• You must raise your voice to be heard

• You can’t hear someone two feet away from you

• Speech around you sounds muffled or dull after leaving a noise area

• You have pain / ringing in your ears (tinnitus) after exposure to noise.
  
  Hazardous Noise
  
  Sounds louder than 80 dB are considered potentially dangerous. Both the amount of noise and the length of time of exposure determine the amount of damage. Hair cells of the inner ear and the hearing nerve can be damaged by the intense brief impulse, like an explosion, or by continuous and/or repeated exposure to noise.
  
  Examples of noise levels considered dangerous by experts are a lawnmower, a rock concert, firearms, firecrackers, headset listening systems, motorcycles, tractors, household appliances (garbage disposals, blenders, food processors/choppers, etc.) and noisy toys, All can deliver sound over 90 dB and some up to 140 dB.  Courtesy of ASHA
  
  

Contact us for more information. 

 

10 Ways to Improve Listening Habits
Valued employees benefit from specialized training to help them communicate more effectively with customers, staff, and colleagues.

Effective listening habits have a positive impact on communication in the workplace.

1. Plan to have adequate time, so that you can fully attend to the speaker without multitasking. 

2. Listen with a positive, encouraging, and
   open-minded attitude. 

3. Control distractions by holding meetings in quiet environments and away   from telephones. Ignore distractions that cannot be eliminated.

4. Listen attentively so you can interpret, evaluate, and respond appropriately. Have a notepad ready to jot down ideas rather than interrupting the speaker.

5. Nod to acknowledge what the speaker is saying, and periodically summarize or paraphrase your understanding of what has been stated. This allows you to clarify the message and avoid future misunderstandings.

6. Ask the speaker to clarify anything that is vague
   or unclear.

7. Ask open-ended questions to learn as much
   as possible.

8. Maintain consistent eye contact. If listening on the phone, try to visualize the speaker in your mind.

9. Listen for the total meaning, including feelings as well as information.

10. Contact a speech-language pathologist who specializes in training to enhance business communication. 
    
    Companies and individuals who want professional communication training can visit the Corporate Speech Pathology Network’s website, www.corspan.org, to locate a member in your area.
    
    Corporate speech pathologists specialize in working with employees on speech training, pronunciation and voice improvement, foreign and regional accent modification, hearing and listening strategies, presentation skills and other areas. All members are certified speech-language pathologists and independent entrepreneurs. Courtesy of Corspan

Contact us for more information. 

 

Nine Easy Ways to Improve
Business Speaking

     Valuable speaking techniques employees can master.

1. Speak slowly and clearly on the telephone, especially when leaving a name and telephone number on voice mail. Listeners cannot write as fast as speakers often talk. 
2. People who speak all day, such as CSR’s, salespeople and teachers, 
   should drink 8 glasses of water to help maintain their voices.
3. A slight downward inflection at the ends of sentences indicates certainty and confidence in our culture. An upward inflection in this country indicates hesitancy or a question. 
4. Be an active listener, rather than thinking of one’s next comment while waiting for the other person to stop talking. 
5. Speak with an even volume and slow easy rate. Your listener needs to be able to follow the content of what you are saying. 
6. Include very brief pauses after expressing important ideas. This allows the listener time to process and, hopefully, to remember
   the idea. 
7. Keeping the body and face fully turned toward the listener, with good eye contact and a strong handshake, are vital aspects of body language in making a great first impression. 
8. 8. In meetings, use a microphone for groups of more than twenty people, a written agenda given to all attendees and follow-up meeting summary. One out of every ten people ages 18-64 has a hearing loss, which many will not mention. These techniques will help both them and those who are visual learners, as well as those not present. 
9. Employees who have excellent skills except in the area of communication may benefit from specialized coaching from a corporate speech pathologist. Our communication skills enable us to keep pace with business and expand the opportunity for career advancement. Successful people keep “communication fit”. 
   Courtesy of Corspan

Contact us for more information. 

Disclaimer: The purpose of this website is to provide general information and NOT to be used to replace the professional advice and consultative services of a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. Information herein is believed to be general in nature though accurate, but no warranty is made as to the accuracy or appropriateness. Information contained herein may be outdated or incomplete. If you or your company have questions or needs pertaining to corporate communication issues, contact a certified Speech-Language Pathologist, or this office will help you locate the professionals nearest you.