Voice

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i'm 16 and have been curious/concerned for a while about my voice. No, its not the depth of it, but just the way it is. Sometimes I think it is hard for people to understand me...I dont have any mental disabilities or anything like that, no speech impediments, I do talk really quietly most of the time (Even if I dont think I'm talking quiet), but hearing myself on recordings (Video or sound) I think most of the time I sound like I have a stuffy nose. Durring the winter, that is usually true. But even in the middle of the summer and my nose is completly clear, I sound that way (I think). Not nasaly, but i dunno...I dont know if its just that I'm really quiet or if i'm dificult to understand, but alot of times I'll say something and other people seem to think I said something else. Just a quick example, a few days ago I went to get a hair cut. The woman who was cutting my hair asked how it was, I replyed 'Pretty good', to which she replyed 'Your welcome'...Leads me to think that she heard 'Thank you' instead of 'Pretty good'....I know that each person has a unique voice, but I would like to do whatever I can to not have stuff like that happen...Dont wanna do anything medical, cause its not THAT serious. Are there any excersizes or things to practice to become easier to understand? I try talking louder, but I dont want to be too loud, lol.I do have a bit of a medical condition which has had me mainly breathing through my mouth for i guess my whole life. Nothing wrong with my nose, just have always had rather stuffy sinuses i guess.Any advice here is appreciated greatly, hopefully someone knows what I'm talking about. Thanks

bumpAnyone?

don't think anyone likes their own voice. I sure don't like mine. I don't think there is anything you can do about your voice though.

You can train your voice. Think of it like improving your handwriting. If you write in a different style for a while you'll eventually always write like that. Just consiously take control of your voice when you talk and make an effort to speak clearly.

Also people, i for one if i don't hear exactly whats being said but i think i could predict what the response should be (like your hairdresser probably did) i would say that.

But like CR said, noone really likes their voice unless there good singers or whatever just live with it :S

There are voice teachers who can help you change your voice, but it has to be a conscious effort. However, Anonymous, I'd have thought the problem lies in your stuffy sinuses, or whatever it is that keeps you from breathing through your nose. It shouldn't be like that - have you had them examined by a specialist? You might have a polyp or something - they can easily be removed.

Well i've had sinus surgery twice in my life already(and allergies right now suck). Its kinda annoying when your misunderstood alot of the time, or when people ask what part of the country your from or if you've got any different cultural background....lol, I guess when I say some words (Phone) for example, I sound like I've got a british accent or something. (Been told i say "Phone" like "Pheen"....Meh, LOL)I'd prefer something that I can do on my own without any other help from other people....I'm at least glad to know that it CAN be improved and that it isnt something i'm screwd with my whole life....I think that its been part of the reason I am so anti-social....i guess i'm so consious about it, I dont wanna always have to repeat myself or clarify myself...Thanks, and keep the great replys coming :-D

Like i said you can self train your voice. Just when you talk be consious of how you talk. If you start talking differently it will only take a few weeks for your voice to completely change to the new one, i have gone from having little or no accent to having a really mad accent. It wasn't soo much on how i said it but i have gotten deeper through practice a bit, but i use a lotta words like; Aite, Innit, Yeah yeah (in an agreeing way not sarcy) and generally just talk in a way thats cooler than my old generic sounding voice, kinda picked up language from everywhere :P

You could be like MJ and have plastic surgery. That worked for him but I dont know what they did for that to happen