Pitch, intensity and timbre of the voice can be altered by all kinds of disorders, explain the University Hospitals of Geneva: functional, with “a disturbance of the vocal gesture”, organic, because of “lesions of the vocal cords”, or neurological, due to a “disturbed movement of the vocal cords”.
These voice disorders, grouped under the term “dysphonia”, are therefore numerous and lead the people concerned to consult when they notice a change in the timbre of their voice, a decrease in its intensity, vocal fatigue or tremors and vocal spasms. An examination carried out by an ENT doctor makes it possible to identify the cause of the dysphonia… or to rule out any medical cause.
muscle tension
Then there is the stress trail, especially when the derailed voice is associated with other symptoms, such as a faster heartbeat and sweaty palms, and a situation that generates anxiety, such as public speaking. or quite simply an outburst of shyness in front of a smaller group.
This is called muscle tension dysphonia. According to an American researcher from the University of Missouri, brain activations induced by stress can indeed cause excessive or altered muscle tension in and around the voice box (the larynx, editor’s note), and thus modify the sound or voice feeling.
She drew this conclusion from an experiment conducted with people who were suddenly told that they were to give a speech. Their levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and their brain activity were measured. Participants with the highest cortisol levels were also those with the most active region of the brain that controls the larynx. With, therefore, an effect on the voice.
Reduce stress
As you will have understood, rather than trying to control your voice, it is better to start by reducing the stress linked to the prospect of oral communication, in small or large groups. Above all, this involves working on breathing and posture.
To find or regain serenity and anchoring, relaxation or positive visualization techniques, such as those used in sophrology, are useful. Fear of failure or judgment related to performance anxiety can be overcome through psychotherapeutic work.
Source: Geneva University Hospitals – Brain Imaging and Behavior – March 2023
