Allergies as a Career Killer for Vocal Professionals

When the pollen flies again in spring, it’s not just your nose and eyes that run, mucus production, throat clearing and voice problems also increase. As a “voice doctor”, I often see voice professionals who are often unaware of their allergic symptoms.

Inhalant allergies and inflammatory changes to the vocal folds

The typical inhalant allergy not only causes allergic reactions in the nose with watery runny nose and nasal congestion due to swelling, but also inflammatory changes in the vocal folds and in the entire mouth and throat area. This can affect voice production due to allergic inflammatory processes on the vocal folds themselves on the one hand and vocal resonance due to allergic reactions of the mouth/throat mucosa on the other, which can impair the vocal sound and vocal performance. Allergic inflammation affects all mucous membranes in the upper respiratory tract. It is not uncommon for secondary functional voice problems (also known as dysphonia) to occur subsequently, as those affected compensate with too much pressure and force when singing and speaking.

Recommendation to all patients with recurring voice problems

I therefore recommend that all patients with recurring voice problems undergo an unconditional assessment for possible inhalant allergies. Allergen avoidance, targeted symptomatic anti-allergic treatment or even specific immunotherapy are just as important for voice professionals with inhalant allergies as they are for all patients with allergic complaints in the upper respiratory tract.