Don’t Let Your Voice Be the Loser This March Madness

(Rockville, MD) Nationwide—in homes, bars, restaurants, and stadiums—fans will soon be shouting and screaming as they watch the NCAA Division 1 Basketball Tournament. Cheering on your favorite team is a lot of fun, but it also can be rough on your voice. To mitigate any temporary or even permanent vocal damage, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) offers the following advice to fans:

1. Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water throughout the day, as hydration is critical to protecting your vocal cords. Sodas and other caffeinated drinks, alcohol, and fried, salty, or spicy foods that often accompany game viewing can be dehydrating, making this particularly important.
2. Take breaks. Tournament viewing can last for hours at a time. Try to rest your voice before and after games, and take breaks between games where you limit talking.
3. Avoid smoking. Smoking can inflame vocal cords. Avoid smoking yourself as well as being in smoky environments.
4. Soothe your throat. If your throat feels sore after the game or the next day, try sipping warm tea with honey or inhaling steam to keep your vocal cords moist and relaxed.
5. Know when to seek help. If you experience persistent hoarseness or vocal pain that lasts more than two weeks, it’s likely time to see a specialist. Speech-language pathologists treat vocal conditions (find one in your area at asha.org/profind). Some people are more susceptible to vocal problems than others. Ignoring vocal issues can lead to long-term damage.

For more information or to set up an interview with an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist, email pr@asha.org.

About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 241,000 members, certificate holders, and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology assistants; and students. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) identify, assess, and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders.