Nasal Voice

[aox]

Greetings,

I always have hated my voice, since I was in middle school. It doesn't seem to me that my voice is nasal, even when I fully pinch my nose shut. However, I have been told by friends (and heard, myself, through recordings) that this is not the case. I did some reading through Google and saw that this may be some sort of ENT disorder, but have also been told that I may just need to see a speech therapist to learn how to speak right. It doesn't seem to me that any air passes through my nose at all when speaking.

My only guess as to the cause to this (as I am not medically trained) would be that, since my allergies were extremely bad as a child, I always spoke and breathed through my mouth and never learned proper speech.

Thanks in advance!

[aox]

I'd like to add that these 'allergies' have persisted throughout my life, but were considerably worse as a child (I was on perscription Claratin for an extended period before it was made OTC, which helped). Currently, I still experience watery eyes (forcing me to wipe them multiple times) and an at least semi-congested nose daily. There are very few occurrences where I can breath freely from both nostrils through the entire day.

I know I probably have slight hearing loss as I ruptured one of my ear drums falling off a slide when I was in preschool. I tend to use the phone with the ear that I can hear better out of. How this would modify how I perceive my own voice, though, I am not clear about.

Thanks for your help :)

[deafsinger]

It would be a good idea to see an ENT for evaluation.
You may have chronic long term allergic rhinitis with congestion in your sinuses & ears  , but you may be so "used to it" that the only symptom you notice is the sound of your voice sounding & feeling nasal.
You also could have some degree of hearing loss.
Please go see an ENT & let us know what they discover to help you.