UNIVERSIDAD PEDAGÓGICA EXPERIMENTAL LIBERTADORINSTITUTO PEDAGÓGICO DE CARACAS

DEPARTAMENTO DE IDIOMAS MODERNOSCÁTEDRA DE LINGÜÍSTICA

METODOLOGÍA ILE

Por: MELÉNDEZ, Patricia

Caracas, junio de 2007

♪ What is VOICE?♪ What is VOICE?

Means of Communication

used to:

♪ Inform

♪Persuade

♪Connect with people

♪ Issues to consider when using the voice in the management of

teaching

♪ Issues to consider when using the voice in the management of

teaching♪ Audibility

♪ Variety

♪ Conservation

♪ What are some causes of voice problems?

♪ What are some causes of voice problems?

♪ Upper respiratory infections♪ Inflammation caused by acid reflux♪ Vocal misuse and abuse ♪ Vocal nodules or laryngeal♪ Papillomatosis (growths)♪ Laryngeal cancer♪ Neuromuscular diseases (such as spasmodic dysphonia or vocal cord paralysis)♪ Psychogenic conditions due to psychological trauma

♪ How do you know when your voice is not healthy?

♪ How do you know when your voice is not healthy?

♪ Has your voice become hoarse or raspy? ♪ Have you lost your ability to hit some high notes when singing? ♪ Does your voice suddenly sound deeper? ♪ Does your throat often feel raw, achy, or strained? ♪ Has it become an effort to talk? ♪ Do you find yourself repeatedly clearing your throat?

♪ Tips to prevent voice problems♪ Tips to prevent voice problems

1.  Don't smoke!  Don't smoke!  Don't smoke!   Also, stay away from smoke-filled environments.2.  Hydration matters.  Drink at least 8, 8-ounce glasses of water per day.3.  Eliminate excessive throat clearing.  4.  Limit alcohol intake.  Alcohol irritates laryngeal epithelium and mucosa5.  Avoid vocally abusive behaviors.6.  Avoid chronic use of mouthwash.  7.  Posture matters.  Good posture allows better airflow and reduces tension and strain. 8.  Exercise regularly to keep your body, mind, and spirit healthy.  9.  Get sufficient sleep daily .  Early to bed, early to rise makes your voice healthy and wise.10. Always warm up your voice before or cool down after prolonged speaking or singing.  

♪ Exercises for Professional Voice users

“Vocal Self-Screening”

♪ Exercises for Professional Voice users

“Vocal Self-Screening”1.  Speaking Fundamental Frequency   

Speaking fundamental frequency is the average pitch at which one speaks.  A significant lowering of may indicate vocal fold pathology.  In order to determine your speaking fundamental frequency:Say “mm-hmmm” several times Say “mm-hmmm” a last time and sustain the “mmm”

2.  Maximum Phonation Time 

Maximum phonation time is a measurement of respiratory and sound control. Using a watch with a second hand, hold an “ah” for as long as you can and record the duration in number of seconds. Adults should typically be able to hold a quiet sound for 15 – 20 seconds; time significantly less than this may indicate vocal fold pathology (Boone, 1991).

4.  Vocal Fold Efficiency or S:Z Ratio

Hold the hiss of a soft “ssss” sound for as long as you can on a single breath.  Measure the duration in seconds. Repeat with a soft “zzzz” sound and compare the two durations. This measures how efficient the vocal mechanism is by comparing voiceless (open vocal folds) and voiced (closed vocal folds) sounds.  Ideally, one should be able to hold each sound for an equal duration, indicating that the vocal folds are valving air effectively.. If the two durations are very different, this may be an indication of vocal fold pathology. For example, if a person could hold an /s/ for 20 seconds and a /z/ for 10 seconds, the vocal folds are inefficiently closing, wasting air.