A UBC instructor says teachers should take care of their voices when professionally engaged or they might end up with vocal-cord disorders.

Dr. Amanda Hu, a laryngologist who is also a clinical associate professor of otolaryngology, is one of only three provincial ear, nose, and throat surgeons who also specialize in professional voice.

This doesn't mean she spends her days treating heavy-metal singers who have pushed themselves too far, or pop divas who failed to properly warm up before performances (although according to a May 28 UBC staff news release, she has seen some famous singers on tour in the past).

It does mean, however, that she sees lots of people in her VGH clinic who depend on their voices for a living, including lecturers, teachers, and fellow professors. And she wants them to take care of their voices in order to prevent a visit, especially seeing as how one-third of teachers will develop vocal-cord disorders.

“Don’t take your voice for granted,” Hu said in the release, which came out a few weeks after World Voice Day.

“Don’t yell and scream at sports games. Use a microphone when you’re giving a large lecture. It’s not an ego thing at all—it decreases the strain and load on your voice. It gives you longevity in your career, especially if you’re a teacher or professor.”

As noted in the release, Hu has a few tips for teachers (and others) on taking care of their voices:

• Keep your vocal cords well hydrated by drinking at least eight cups of water a day.
• Don’t yell and scream at concerts or sports games (or, presumably, at unruly classrooms).
• Avoid restaurants or bars with background noise, as it will force you to raise your voice in conversation (although this is easier said than done in Vancouver).
• Don’t smoke or vape, obviously.
• Schedule breaks in the day when you can rest your voice, especially if you are a teacher or professor with multiple classes.
• Use nonverbal cues—such as flashing a light or ringing a bell—to get the attention of students or children instead of raising your voice.
• Don’t be afraid to ask your employer for aids such as microphones or a schedule with down time to rest your voice.