Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand ForksVocal Fry can damage vocal cords

In tonight's Healthier Me... You've probably heard it before, but never knew it had a name.  It's something called 'vocal fry' -- and it's creeping into how young women talk and sing. Experts say this speech pattern could leave you speechless. 

You'll never hear vocal fry accompanying the high notes played on the piano, but Music Theater major Margaret Wollenzien says she's noticed this low creaking vibration in some of her favorite music --and what's croaking in pop culture is now creeping into the conversations among young women.

Sanford Speech Pathologist Margie Hennesson explains how vocal fry works.  "You're essentially relaxing those vocal chords so that they're very loose and the chords flutter together with a limited amount of air coming through."

But speech pathologists at Sanford Health say making this type of sound could end up 'frying' your vocal chords.  That 'valley girl' voice may sound totally cool, but if used to the extreme it can lead to swelling that could change your voice, even develop blister-like growths in your vocal chords.

Concordia Music Professor Karen Hamilton says she never encourages her students to use the vocal fry register.  "They don't even know that they're doing it cuz they hear it from people like Kim Kardashian..  She uses it a lot"

Experts say though more prevalent in young singers now, they've been treating patients with vocal fry for decades. And no matter how much of what we hear can influence the way we sing or talk, you might want to press mute on this language fad.

"It's kind of like when you're sick and you lose your voice.  It's that same feeling," Margaret Wollenzien said. 

Experts say the speech pattern is treatable through about three to four weeks of therapy..which focuses on breath support and good vocal hygiene.