Can Losing Your Voice During Recovery Improve Your Vocal Range?

Often, those engaged in voice therapy or vocal performance wonder about the interplay between illness and vocal range improvement. This article explores various scenarios and experiences to provide insights into whether recovering from an illness can indeed enhance your vocal range.

Improvements After Voice Therapy

If you have undergone voice therapy to address issues such as vocal strain, injury, or weakness, you may notice improvements in your vocal range. Voice therapy is designed to strengthen the vocal cords and address specific issues that can limit one's range. therapy sessions typically focus on exercises to improve breath control, diaphragm strength, and the alignment of the larynx, among other aspects. As a result, your range may expand during or after therapy.

Personal Experience with Illness and Vocal Recovery

I, as a long-time singer, was a soprano with a high vocal range. However, I experienced a bout of illness during the fall. This illness lasted for a few weeks, and upon recovery, it took me a considerable amount of time to return to my previous vocal abilities. It is possible for vocal range to fluctuate post-illness, but it often requires a significant amount of time and effort to recover completely.

Impact of a Severe Infection on Vocal Range

Nine years ago, I contracted a particularly aggressive strain of swine flu, which left me very ill for more than a week. This was the first time in nearly 35 years of performing nearly 7,500 gigs that I was unable to perform. The sickness was so severe that I was confined to bed for extended periods. Despite not experiencing a sore throat or other vocal-specific issues, my vocal high notes became challenging to produce when I began to recover about three weeks later.

I estimate that I lost about 10 top notes of my vocal range, and unfortunately, this range never fully returned. This instance highlights the potential long-term impact of an illness on vocal range, particularly when the full recovery period is not adequately addressed.

Common Factors Affecting Vocal Recovery

The recovery of vocal range following an illness can be influenced by several factors, including the duration and severity of the illness, the type of illness, and the duration of rest the voice has had. If an illness is due to a common cold or flu, it often means that the vocal cords have had time to rest and may return to their normal state once the infection is cleared. However, if the illness has caused physical damage to the vocal cords or has left lasting effects, the recovery of range may be more complex and lengthy.

For example, the vocal cords may not have vibrated fully during the illness, leading to the production of higher notes that lacked normal harmonics and were not properly connected to the rest of the range. Over time, as the vocal cords repair and regain full functionality, these issues can be addressed, leading to potential improvements in range.

Conclusion

In summary, the impact of an illness on vocal range is multifaceted. While some illnesses may not affect vocal range, others, especially those lasting a significant amount of time, can have lasting effects. Voice therapy and diligent recovery practices are crucial for regaining a full vocal range. Understanding the specifics of one's illness and recovery process will help in determining how the vocal range might be impacted.