UC Celebrates World Voice Day with Screenings, Educational Event at Music Hall

CINCINNATI—To recognize World Voice Day 2012, the UC Health Performance & Professional Voice Center is partnering with the Cincinnati Opera to hold an educational event for the region’s professional and occupational voice users at Cincinnati’s Music Hall. 

The free event, held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 14, will engage Cincinnati’s voice community in a discussion about voice care and health. During the day, specialists from UC Health, UC’s College-Conservatory of Music and Cincinnati Opera will discuss the mechanics of voice production, the basics of voice care and the latest findings in scientific research into the voice. 

Speakers include:

• Sid Khosla, MD, director of the UC Health Performance & Professional Voice Center 

• Eva van Leer, co-director of the UC Health Performance & Professional Voice Center

• Kenneth Shaw, director of Opera d’Arte, CCM Undergraduate Opera

• Evans Mirageas, the Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of Cincinnati Opera

Khosla, the only fellowship-trained laryngologist in the Greater Cincinnati area, says professional voice users often place heavy demands on their voice that can lead to problems in the future. But with proper education and preventive care, he says singers and voice users can avoid the damage inflicted by improper techniques and vocal disease. 

UC Health speech pathologist van Leer says the event is open to anyone who users their voice often—from professional performers to church choir members and singers in heavy metal bands. 

"There’s a lot of mythology about what’s good or bad for your voice,” says van Leer, "But these don’t need to be mysteries. We hope to give attendees an owner’s manual for their voice, so they understand the science behind how it works and what to do if it breaks down.”

To catch voice problems early, Khosla and other UC Health voice specialists will hold free voice screenings Friday, April 13, and Monday, April 16, at two UC Health locations.

During the screenings, doctors will teach patients about proper vocal hygiene and care and educate them on risk factors or signs of a vocal problem. Such signs can include hoarseness lasting for more than three weeks, a chronic cough or decreased vocal range.

Voice screenings will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 13, at the UC Health Physician’s Office in West Chester and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 16, at the UC Health Barrett Center.