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Specialist Urges Teachers Not To Abuse Their Voices

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A local voice specialist is urging teachers not to abuse their voices in the classroom.

Good teachers talk, and talk and talk all day long and that can put quite a strain on the voice, according to Dr. Joseph Spiegel, co-director of the Jefferson Hospital Voice and Swallowing Center.

He says there are ways to help avoid a problem, "Maintain hydration through the day -- and that also includes environmentally -- if there's any way to avoid or improve the dryness of the room they're in, it's very important not to smoke or to avoid second hand smoke."

He says vocal exercises can also help and when you don't have to talk, don't.

Spiegel urges people not to wait too long before seeking help, "There's a basic rule for everybody and it doesn't matter if you're using voice professionally or not, that if you have hoarseness set in and it's still there after two to three weeks you need to see a doctor. One, because there are serious problems that can be diagnosed and two, because many of the other problems are very treatable."

Reported by Lynne Adkins, KYW Newsradio 1060

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