Hoarseness or total loss of voice is caused by a condition known as laryngitis, which is inflammation of the larynx. Laryngitis has many causes, so if you're trying to lose your voice on purpose, you have many choices. Proceed with caution, though - voice loss is usually accompanied by significant pain and irritation. Note: If you are looking to recover the voice after losing it, you can read this article.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Recommended Methods
Step 1. Talk, talk and talk
The easiest way to lose your voice is to use it to the point where you can't use it again. Vocal activities, such as speaking, screaming, singing, etc., require the vocal cords of the larynx to vibrate - with prolonged use, these cords can become inflamed, interfering with your ability to speak. Try talking loudly all the time. If you insist, your voice should start to tire.
If you are looking for opportunities to speak loudly and for a long time, try signing up for a speaking class or just talking to friends in a bar or club
Step 2. Sing
Singing can be very demanding on the vocal cords - even more so with very high or very low registers. These dangers are magnified if you are not a trained or experienced singer. So if you want to make sure you ruin your voice, try singing loud notes outside your vocal range.
- Of course, avoid doing warm-up exercises before singing.
- If you are embarrassed to sing out loud, try singing in your car with all doors and windows closed. Other drivers will think you are phoning or singing on the radio.
Step 3. Cough
While it's not uncommon for cold sufferers to cough until they lose their voice, you don't have to wait for a cold to cough. Any type of repeated cough will irritate the larynx and cause inflammation that can cause you to lose your voice. Try combining coughs with one of the other methods in the article to get the best effect.
As with singing and screaming, coughing too much in the long run can cause persistent pain and throat damage
Step 4. Keep your mouth open
As discussed above, it is easy to tire a dry throat. To speed up the process, dry your mouth and throat by keeping your mouth open all day. This method is very effective if you live in a dry climate.
If you're worried about what you would always look like with your mouth open, try sleeping with your mouth open so that no one can see you
Step 5. Don't drink
Well-lubricated vocal cords work best. In fact, people who speak or sing professionally often keep water on stage to protect their vocal cords. If you are trying to lose your voice, do the opposite! Do not relieve irritation of the vocal cords with a refreshing sip of water after speaking, shouting or singing.
- Be reasonable when following this rule: don't avoid drinking until you get dehydrated.
- If you are looking for an alternative to water that strains your throat more, try an acidic drink or one that contains dairy products (see below for more information).
Step 6. Consume acidic or dairy foods
Certain types of foods and drinks, especially highly acidic ones (lemon, vinegar, etc.) and milk derivatives, favor the production of mucus. Although mucus alone does not irritate the vocal cords, it promotes coughing. So if you are trying to lose your voice, try consuming this type of food in combination with one of the other methods described in the article.
Step 7. Drink very cold water
Some people believe that drinking very cold water can have a mucus-producing effect similar to that of acidic or dairy foods. Try drinking a glass of ice water to test its effects on your throat - if you notice increased mucus production after drinking something cold, try this method of inducing a cough.
Method 2 of 2: Methods Not Recommended
Step 1. Scream
The more you work your vocal cords, the sooner you tire them. Screaming and shouting strain your vocal cords a lot more than normal conversations and will take a lot less time to make you lose your voice. For best results, try screaming at the highest volume possible. Remember though, that screaming like this can be painful and even lead to permanent damage.
If you don't want to annoy people with your yelling, try going to an event where yelling is common, like a stadium or rock concert
Step 2. Get a cold
Often, when a person loses their voice, it is due to a cold. If you really want to lose your voice, consider exposing yourself to situations where it will be easier to catch a cold. For example, you could spend time with friends who have a cold and sleep less than you usually do. Of course, deliberately catching a cold can result in many unwelcome side effects, such as fever, nausea, and muscle aches, as well as general malaise, so stay away from the cold virus if you really don't want to lose your voice!
It goes without saying, but to be perfectly clear, it is never a good idea to voluntarily expose yourself to serious illness. Use common sense
Step 3. Make your allergies worse
Allergies cause throat irritation and hoarseness in some circumstances. If you have a history of mild allergies and have suffered from a sore throat from the allergy in the past, you may be exposing yourself to allergens to lose your voice. For example, if you have a seasonal pollen allergy, in addition to using one of the above methods you could go to the park and smell some flowers!
If you have a severe allergy, don't risk causing an allergic reaction just to lose your voice. Severe allergic attacks can be fatal
Step 4. Do not give the voice a way to rest
Over time, the body heals almost all throat irritations on its own. If you want to lose your voice, don't let that happen! The less you rest your larynx, the sooner you will lose your voice. Challenge the fatigue!
But remember that with this method, you will be putting your voice at risk. Tiring your voice (especially for a long time) can cause permanent damage. Many singers with powerful voices, for example, after years of vocal fatigue, see their singing skills diminish
Advice
- If you decide to scream to lose your voice, do it with a pillow in front of your mouth so as not to worry the neighbors.
- Instead of losing your voice, you could just pretend.
Warnings
- Also avoid acid reflux when trying to lose your voice, a painful condition in which acid from the stomach leaks into the throat, causing irritation. Although acid reflux is so unpleasant that no one is likely to try to provoke it to lose their voice, it is worth mentioning that chronic acid reflux problems can lead to throat conditions that increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
- Some things that can cause you to lose your voice can be very damaging to your health, so avoid them even if you think you are losing your voice. Smoking, for example, can make you lose your voice, but it's a really stupid idea, because tobacco has been linked to many health problems including cancer, heart problems, heart attack, emphysema, and more.
