U of A Speech and Hearing Clinic Highlights the Importance of Vocal Health on World Voice Day

The U of A Speech and Hearing Clinic is celebrating World Voice Day!

Observed each April, World Voice Day promotes awareness of voice care by bringing together clinicians, educators and communities to recognize the voice's role in communication and well-being.

This year's theme, "Caring for Our Voices," also gives the program in Communication Sciences and Disorders an opportunity to highlight the depth of voice-related clinical and research expertise available at the U of A.

Jessica Danley, U of A Speech and Hearing Clinic director, brings advanced specialization in voice disorders to both patient care and student training. She holds an Advanced Certificate in Voice Pedagogy and is a certified Vocal Health Education First Aid provider. As a clinical educator, Danley incorporates experiential, case-based learning approaches that mirror real-world practice, helping graduate students build clinical skills while supporting the clinic's broader mission to raise awareness of vocal health across campus and the community.

"World Voice Day is a chance to pause and truly appreciate the ability to speak. Our voice shapes how we connect, express and care for others as healthcare providers. I use mine every day as an educator, but also in the quiet and personal moments that matter most, like telling my children I love them. A healthy voice is a gift, and World Voice Day reminds me not to overlook it," Danley shared.

Zoë Thijs, Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty member, also shared thoughts on the broader impact of the initiative. "World Voice Day highlights something we often take for granted: our voices. We rarely consider how essential they are, yet our voices shape our communication and identity. As a voice scientist, this day is a great opportunity to raise awareness on the importance of voice."

Dr. Thijs's research explores how health, emotions and communication environments influence vocal function, with a focus on populations at higher risk for long-term voice disorders, including individuals with Parkinson's disease, bilingual speakers and professional voice users, to support more personalized voice care. She leads the Lab of Applied Voice Analysis (LAVA), which is currently recruiting teachers from pre-K through college to participate in a voice survey aimed at better understanding the demands placed on professional voice users. Those interested can learn more or participate here: https://uark.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7WnKFqHziSghnXE.

To explore current and upcoming voice research initiatives through LAVA, visit the lab's website: https://voiceresearch.uark.edu/.

To learn more about services at the U of A Speech and Hearing Clinic, visit the clinic's website: https://csdi.uark.edu/clinic.  

To become more familiar with vocal wellness tips and World Voice Day, visit Dysphonia International's website: http://dysphonia.org.