Vocal rest is the process of resting the vocal folds by not speaking or singing, which typically follows vocal disorders or viral infections which cause hoarseness in the voice, such as the common cold or influenza. The purpose of vocal rest is to hasten recovery time. It is believed that vocal rest, along with rehydration, will significantly decrease recovery time after a cold It is generally believed, however, that if one needs to communicate one should speak and not whisper. The reasons for this differ; some believe that whispering merely does not allow the voice to rest and may have a dehydrating effect , while others hold that whispering can cause additional stress to the larynx