Whispering: To Whisper or Not to Whisper?

When you’re hoarse, the lay advice is often to whisper, assuming that reducing vocal fold vibration will help your voice rest. Yet, most speech and language therapists advise against whispering, warning that it can strain the voice even more. So, which is it? The truth is that neither blanket recommendation fully captures reality—not all whispers are created equally.
In this post, I briefly review the research on whispering and then take an in‐depth look at the Confidential Voice technique—a tailored alternative that offers its own benefits and challenges.

The Contradictory Advice

Layperson Wisdom:
For many, whispering is seen as a gentle alternative to speaking, a way to "rest" a strained voice without going completely silent. The idea is simple: no vocal fold vibration means less wear and tear.

SLT Guidance:
Clinicians, however, often caution against whispering. Research has shown that, especially when performed forcefully, whispering can actually increase tension in the laryngeal muscles and exacerbate supraglottic hyperfunction (excessive squeezing of tissues above the vocal folds).

This contradiction raises an important question: Is whispering beneficial, or is it another form of vocal strain? Recent research suggests that the answer isn’t black and white.

What the Research Reveals

1. Forced Versus Relaxed Whispering

• Rubin et al. (2004) conducted a fiberoptic study on patients with voice complaints and found that about 70% showed increased supraglottic hyperfunction during whispering. In many cases, a forced, tense whisper resulted in an “inverted Y” configuration of the vocal folds, indicating increased compression and potential strain. Yet about 18% showed no change and 13% even showed improved glottal configurations, suggesting that technique matters.

2. Aerodynamic Variability in Whispering

• Konnai et al. (2017) investigated the aerodynamic parameters of whispering compared to normal phonation in three men and five women. Their study revealed that whispering’s subglottal pressure, airflow, and flow resistance are highly variable and depend on the loudness and degree of vocal fold adduction. In essence, a “pressed” whisper can result in higher airflow and resistance—conditions that may increase vocal strain rather than alleviate it.

3. Effects of Forced Whisper Loading

• Echternach et al. (2024) conducted a forced whisper loading test in 10 vocally healthy subjects (divided into tensioned [TW] and untensioned [UW] whisperers). Subjects whispered for 10 minutes at around 70 dB(A). They reported only minor changes—such as a small (≈2.4 dB) increase in minimum intensity—suggesting that even forced whispering over a short period might not drastically affect vocal function. However, these findings were limited to a short interval vocal loading test and healthy individuals; effects could differ in patients with vocal fold injuries or post-surgery. It does suggest, however, that an untensioned/relaxed whisper may not be as detrimental as a tense whisper.

Not All Whispers Are Created Equal

The key takeaway from these studies is that whispering isn’t inherently good or bad—its impact depends on the technique:

• Forced or Tense Whispering: Often results in increased laryngeal tension and supraglottic hyperfunction, potentially worsening vocal strain.

• Relaxed, Untensioned Whispering: May reduce vocal fold collision and strain, but even then, its benefits are not universal.

Thus, the common lay advice “just whisper” oversimplifies the issue, while the typical clinical recommendation to avoid whispering entirely may also miss the nuance. The reality is that whispering can be both a method of vocal rest and a potential source of further strain—it all comes down to how you whisper.

Beyond Whispering: Alternatives for Vocal Rest

Given these complexities, what should you do when the voice is strained or hoarse? Two strategies have emerged as effective alternatives:

1. Relative Voice Rest

Instead of complete silence, relative voice rest involves reducing the overall vocal load. This means using your voice less and avoiding excessive or forceful speaking, thereby giving the vocal folds time to recover without resorting to an unnatural whisper.

2. Confidential Voice Technique

Developed by Colton and Casper in 1990, the Confidential Voice technique is designed to minimise vocal fold collision and reduce muscle tension. Here’s what it entails:

• Mechanism:
  Confidential Voice encourages a slightly abducted (open) glottal configuration. By reducing the force of vocal fold contact, it aims to lower the collision forces that contribute to tissue irritation.

• Benefits:
  Research and clinical reports suggest that when employed correctly, Confidential Voice can help in the early healing phases for benign lesions, muscle tension dysphonia, and vocal fatigue. Patients often report a softer, less strained voice. However, it requires significant concentration and may not be suitable for everyone—particularly those with conditions like adductor laryngeal dystonia.

• Clinical Integration:
  Many studies (e.g., Verdolini-Marston et al., 1995; Leddy et al., 1997) have shown that when Confidential Voice is used as a short-term strategy—especially postoperatively or for early lesion reduction—it can be beneficial. It’s often best used in combination with other techniques (like resonant voice therapy) to gradually transition back to normal speaking.

Implications for Practice

For clinicians and patients alike, the key message is that neither “whispering is good” nor “whispering is bad” is universally true. Instead, the approach must be tailored:

• Assess Individual Technique:
  Evaluate whether a patient’s whisper is relaxed or forced. A stroboscopic examination can reveal if the patient’s whisper leads to excessive vocal fold contact.

• Customise Therapy Plans:
  For some, relative voice rest combined with controlled whispering or Confidential Voice may be ideal. For others—especially those with hyperfunctional voice disorders—the goal may be to completely avoid whispering and adopt alternative strategies.

• Consider the Context:
  Lay advice often promotes whispering for immediate relief, but the evidence suggests that the long-term health of the voice is best served by reducing overall vocal load and employing techniques that minimise strain.

Conclusion

The debate over whether to whisper when your voice is hoarse isn’t a simple yes or no. Research shows that not all whispers are created equally: a forced, tense whisper may increase strain, while a relaxed whisper might be less harmful—but neither should be considered a universal remedy. For effective vocal rehabilitation, especially among professional voice users therapy must be individualised. Tailoring your approach can mean the difference between further strain and genuine recovery.

References

• Rubin, A. D., Praneetvatakul, V., Gherson, S., Moyer, C. A., & Sataloff, R. T. (2004). Laryngeal Hyperfunction During Whispering: Reality or Myth? Journal of Voice, 20(1), 121–127. 10.1016/j.jvoice.2004.10.007

• Konnai, R., Scherer, R., Peplinski, A., & Ryan, K. (2017). Whisper and Phonation: Aerodynamic Comparisons Across Adduction and Loudness. Journal of Voice, 31(6), 773.e11–773.e20. 10.1016/j.jvoice.2017.02.016

• Echternach, M., Köberlein, M., Döllinger, M., et al. (2024). Does forced whisper have an impact on voice parameters? European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 281, 4873–4880. 10.1007/s00405-024-08698-7

• Colton, R. H., Casper, J. K., & Leonard, R. (2011). Understanding voice problems: a physiological perspective for diagnosis and treatment. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

• Verdolini-Marston K, Burke MK, Lessac A, Glaze L, Caldwell E. (1995) Preliminary study of two methods of treatment for laryngeal nodules. Journal of Voice, 9(1), 74-85. doi: 10.1016/s0892-1997(05)80225-5

• Leddy, M., Samlan, R., & Poburka, B. (1997). Effective treatments for hyperfunctional voice disorders. In A. Shoemaker, Advance for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, 7(9), 18