Energizing the Voice

1. Some patients complain about having "weak" voices that do not carry, that do not convey the desired image, and that seem to fatigue as the day goes by. The following activites should help the individuals change these behaviors.
2. This is a difficult technique to describe due to the abstractness of the concept. The analogy given by Casper and Colten described this as the car engine that is chugging along on only thre spark plugs rather than all six. It is also is akin to the desire to "set a match" under someone who is too low keyed, too subdued and laid back. It is appropriate for use with patients who are known to have normal metabolic states and normal ear, nose, and throat examiniation and who are not psychiatrically depressed.
3. The client should use adequate mouth opening and movement of articulators.
4. Then the client should use more inflection or variability of pitch.
5. The client should then use an adequate loudness level and increased variability of loudness as appropriate to mark meaning.
6. The client should use a "well placed" and well-supported voice.