London - A croaky voice can be improved with humming, research has found.
Daily humming was tested at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine as a treatment for people with the common voice disorder muscle tension dysphonia - which can make the voice husky, breathy or rough.
It occurs when muscles around the voice box become too tight. Why it happens is not precisely understood, though triggers may include irritants such as upper respiratory infections, passive smoking, acid reflux, heartburn and excessive demands on the voice.
In the study, 23 people with muscle tension dysphonia were given humming as a therapy.
All but five had reductions in vocal roughness scores. It’s thought the vibrations from humming relax the muscles around the voice box. - Daily Mail