Bogart-Bacall syndrome

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Bogart-Bacall Syndrome is a vocal misuse disorder.

People who speak or sing out of their normal range can experience vocal fatigue, which is one cause of dysphonia. The people most commonly afflicted are those who speak in a low-pitched voice, particularly if they have poor breath and vocal control. The syndrome can affect both males and females.

Bogart and Bacall both suffered from a mild vocal disorder that has been named for them, Bogart-Bacall Syndrome. BBS is now the medical term for an ongoing hoarseness that often afflicts actors, singers or TV/radio voice workers who routinely speak in a very low pitch.

Bacall naturally had a high, nasally voice, she trained it to be lower to get her debut part in To Have and Have Not.

Treatment usually involves voice therapy by a speech language pathologist.