Breath holding: an elusive obstacle

Abstract

Actors and singers sometimes experience vocal fatigue, increased effort, and sometimes hoarseness that cannot be attributed to poor technique. Symptoms appear randomly. Voice coaches and trainers often are at a loss as to how to help. Laryngeal examination by a qualified laryngologist generally does not reveal any pathology so they are referred for voice therapy. Since these performers are experienced and have good technique, it is often difficult to get to the root of the problem. Very often the problem is related to breath holding or constriction of the airflow related to poor body dynamics and respiratory–phonatory coordination. Breath holding or restricting the airflow is difficult to identify because it can manifest in many different ways. The most obvious indications include audible release of air at the end of phrases such as we hear in some pop singing, squeezing, or “pushing” the sound at the ends of phrases sometimes disintegrating into a rough popping quality known as glottal fry. More subtle indications include a sense of constriction in the throat, throat or neck pain, increased fatigue, or increased effort on exertion. This article explores the somatic implications of breath holding and provides a sample lesson for retraining maladaptive patterns.