However, not all causes are as innocuous as cold. Change in the quality of voice isn t always a cause for concern your normal voice should return within a week if you have a common cold or a throat infection. These changes usually happen when the voice-producing organs like larynx and the vocal tract develop some problems, making your voice sound harsh and unpleasant. People experiencing sudden hoarseness of voice may also find it difficult to perform vocal activities like singing or talking for a long time. Hoarseness is a quality associated with unusual changes in human voice that makes it raspy or breathy. Thekdi.Written by Sandhya Raghavan | Published : Febru6:08 PM ISTĪ nasty throat infection can sometimes leave our voice so hoarse that our own mothers won t recognise us over the telephone. Lastly, it's also very important to rule out cancer," adds Dr. Left untreated, serious complications or permanent damage to your vocal cords can occur. "If you've tried resting your voice and haven't seen any improvement after two weeks, you need to be evaluated so the issue can be defined and treated. Thekdi says don't wait to see an ENT voice specialist if you're experiencing chronic hoarseness. "We can also use surgery to treat other types of vocal cord issues that don't respond to voice therapy." "We always begin with the most conservative approach, but, in some cases, such as with polyps or tumors on the vocal cords, we opt for surgery right away," says Dr. For more serious vocal cord issues, surgery may be needed. If you are diagnosed with a throat disorder or vocal cord condition, your doctor may recommend voice therapy, a type of physical therapy used to heal and strengthen your vocal cords. "This is something we can easily rule out by visualizing the larynx." But in reality, it's rare for either of these conditions to cause persistent hoarseness," adds Dr. "Sometimes chronic hoarseness is attributed to allergies or acid reflux. In addition, seeing an ENT voice specialist can help separate your symptoms from those of other common conditions. "Through a 30-second, in-office scope evaluation, we can examine your vocal cords and identify what's causing your issue." "However, if hoarseness persists beyond two weeks of at-home remedies, it's time to see a specialist," says Dr. "The most effective self-care treatment is typically voice rest - simply not speaking for an entire day, for example," says Dr. The first line of treatment you can do at home, such as: Treating chronic hoarseness starts with treating the underlying cause of the laryngitis.
If you're experiencing chronic hoarseness, an ENT voice specialist (also called a laryngologist) can identify the cause and severity of your vocal cord issue, as well as recommend a targeted course of treatment. When caught early, throat cancer is very curable," says Dr. "Additionally, while rare, chronic hoarseness can be a sign of cancer, and this isn't something we want to miss. Polyps, cysts or nodules on your vocal cordsĬhronically inflamed or irritated vocal cords can lead to strain and injury - so it's important to get chronic hoarseness checked out.Persistent bacterial or viral infection.Overusing your voice, which is most common in individuals who use their voices professionally (performing artists, teachers, salespersons and speakers).The most common causes of chronic hoarseness are: However, if your other symptoms clear up and you continue to be hoarse for another two weeks, that's considered chronic and we begin to worry," explains Dr. This isn't something we worry about too much.
"If you have a cold or another type of upper respiratory infection, it's not unusual to experience some amount of hoarseness. The swelling that accompanies this inflammation prevents your vocal cords from vibrating properly, causing changes to the sound and volume of your voice.Īnd from being sick to yelling too much at a concert or sporting event, there are a few obvious explanations for losing your voice.īut what about when your voice is persistently hoarse without a clear reason or any accompanying symptoms? What causes chronic hoarseness? Hoarseness is the most noticeable symptom of laryngitis, which is when your vocal cords are inflamed or irritated. It can sometimes be a sign of a more serious underlying health condition." And chronic hoarseness isn't just inconvenient. "It's considered chronic when it persists for two weeks or more. Apurva Thekdi, ENT doctor specializing in laryngology at Houston Methodist. However, it can last longer," explains Dr. "Most of the time, hoarseness is acute and lasts only a few days. And if it really drags on, you may start to wonder how long is too long for a hoarse voice to linger? Dealing with a hoarse voice is frustrating - especially if a few days go by without any improvement.
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