Thread: Throat issues and teaching

Hi all,

Not sure whether this is the right forum or not but I was curious if any other instructors have had problems with vocal chord nodules due to teaching? I have been dealing with recurrent tonsillitis and now my ENT says I have vocal chord nodules. He says I need to rest my voice and they should go away. I have always had a low voice and it makes it difficult to be heard over music, in pubs etc. My own hubby often complains I don't speak loud enough. Well, now I've had a few months of pain and am now seriously down and frustrated. ..cr.: Has anyone else had issues with this? Any suggestions or I hear ya sista's appreciated. ..g.:

I have problems sometimes when I teach in large areas. I was teaching some seniors once (some already have difficulty hearing). I borrowed a headset microphone from the community center and that helped me. I am not sure how much one normally cost. I only used once. I get dehydrated easily so I also drink a ton of water.

Thanks Reinna, I drink lots of water and guess I need to start using a microphone. My problem now is letting it heal, I can't really stop my classes at the moment but can't just be a mime either. ;) Nice to hear someone else has had this problem. How long before your voice healed?

I remember from my ACE training that vocal injuries are the most common injuries among group fitness instructors.

I've had minor bouts with vocal strain in the past. I keep it under control by not turning the music up very loud when I'm going to be cuing over it, and I *refuse* to yell over students who are whispering amongst themselves. I'll just stop teaching until everyone is quiet.

So far *knocks wood* I haven't had any serious issues, though, so I don't have any advice for you. But I hear ya, sista!

I ended up getting a headset mic- it's not performance quality, it's what the music store said all the jazzercise instructors use and was about $200

Thanks all. :) I guess I will be picking up a microphone. Lauren, that is so interesting about fitness instructors and I can believe it. This has just been so frustrating so I will definitely take the I hear ya sister! How long did it take your voice to recover Lauren?

I'm not a BD instructor, but I am a schoolteacher, so I am using my voice for around 5 hours a day around noisy teens!

Whenever I start teaching again at the beginning of the school year I get a dodgy throat, because I forget to speak properly.

I would thoroughly recommend taking some voice lessons, so you can learn how to project your voice without straining yourself.

Do keep hydrated, I also keep throat sweets handy for the first sign of trouble. I would also second the bit about not talking over students. You can probably avoid talking over music most of the time, by making sure you have explained and walked through stuff before putting the music on, and only using brief cues and reminders.