For over many years of my Non-Surgical Voice Repair practice, I have been personally answering numerous emails and phone calls with all sorts of inquiries with regards to people possessing various voice/vocal problems. Some of them had been already diagnosed with a voice/vocal disorder; others knew that they had speech or singing problems but still were not certain how they acquired them and what exactly they were. And the other category of people had already undergone a vocal surgery.

The latter category of people, at first, were very happy, as they thought that all of their voice/vocal problems had been solved once and for all. And yes, they felt better (some of them, but not all of them) and thought that, after surgical intervention, they could speak or sing better then ever.

However, in a shorter (or even longer) while, they began to notice that their voice started to gradually deteriorate again and slowly, the voice stated coming back to its original ill condition; and in some cases, their voice began to sound even worse then before the surgical interference.

Those people, of course, were quite in panic, as they could not understand why (after their voice was surgically “fixed”) they thought, they had been again experiencing vocal difficulties.

This category of people, unfortunately, could not understand that their “instrument”, perhaps was adequately fixed, but nobody (of course) had taught them a new application of their speaking and/or singing voice; thus there was only 50% of change (with respect of the “instrument”), but the other 50% of knowledge of how to conduct their speaking and/or singing voice properly and safely without harming it again, had been missed. Therefore, given the above, the protection of the health of their voice, let alone for a lifetime, had never been assured.

After any surgery of any kind, the post-surgical trauma is still present and it does require a shorter or longer period of time for the healing to take place.

The latter is the first phase. The second phase is the actual post-surgical care which should be conducted by a qualified voice specialist. The regular conventional medicine quite often suggests a speech therapy to supposedly put one’s voice in order. Moreover, the ENT doctors suggest the above not only for people with speech problems, but also for singers…?

I happen to be that alternative speaking and singing voice specialist and never met anybody (before or after vocal surgery) who would acquire any significant results from above aforementioned services.

Moreover, when people with singing voice problems call me and ask me if I am a speech therapist who can accept their work insurance benefits, it really puzzles me why (especially people with singing voice problems) would want to go to a speech therapist who never sung a note in their life and thus never possessed any kind of vocal technique him/herself...?

When I do ask that question, the answer usually is that those speech therapists are authorized to accept insurance benefits…

Unfortunately, the vocally injured people (perhaps, out of frustration) lose their ability to think straight; and thus are making totally illogical decisions. Needless to say that, in majority of those cases, while “setting the stage for disaster” they never accomplish any significant results, if even at all.

With technology progressing everyday and every minute of the day, unfortunately, by my observations, people are not becoming much smarter. On the contrary, they think that the technology will give them all the answers and all the solutions to all of their problems, vocal problems included. Moreover, they have little understanding that the voice is a significant part of their anatomy and physiology. I have always said that the voice is the spirit and it has to be discovered, uncovered and, in a manner of speaking, “flown to the universe”.

For greater reference of the above, please refer to my book, “Vocal Science – Flight to the Universe”. The title of my book does refer to the human voice which, with the application of the proper technique, will, so to speak, soar with the “ease of the Eagles” and to the place where the “sky is the limit”.

Author's Bio: 

Diana Yampolsky is the Master Vocal Coach, Studio Vocal Producer, and Non-Surgical Voice Repair Specialist at The Royans Professional Vocal School in Toronto, Canada. She is also the creator of the Vocal Science (TM) method and Talent Scout and Director for the 4 A.M. Talent Development and Artist Management Group Inc.

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If you find yourself struggling with vocal performance or are in need of voice repair, you can reach Diana by email or phone at 416-857-8741