What is Hoarseness?

Hoarseness is an abnormal change in the character of the voice. The voice may be strained, raspy, weak, breathy, scratchy, too effortful, inconsistent, or even completely gone. Hoarseness, also called “dysphonia,” occurs when the surface of the vocal fold is disrupted or the vocal folds cannot close appropriately.

How does my voice work?

Voice production comes naturally to most people, yet it requires a surprisingly complex set of coordinated muscle movements. Three key components are air power from the lungs, vibration of the vocal folds, and resonance of the upper airway including the mouth and nose. The body relies on opening of the vocal folds to breathe, and requires precise closure of the vocal folds to produce sound. Problems at any of these sites may result in hoarseness.

People often develop swelling of the vocal folds from an infection (“laryngitis”), using the voice too much, or smoking. A wide variety of growths can occur on the surface of the vocal folds, such as nodules, polyps, cysts, and tumors. Some people may even develop weakness or paralysis of one or both vocal folds.

How to help my voice?

The first step with a new voice problem is to avoid over-using the voice while it is damaged. Typically, resting the voice will allow time for the injury to heal, and do remember to avoid shouting or whispering as this creates undesirable force on the vocal folds. Please observe excellent hydration; keep your water bottle with you all day to help the vocal folds stay well lubricated. Blood thinning medications including aspirin and ibuprofen should be avoided, if possible.

Depending on the nature of the voice problem, you may benefit from medical therapies, strengthening exercises (voice therapy with a Speech and Language Pathologist), or surgery. Frequently, combinations of treatments are the best approach and are individually tailored to each unique person.

Hoarseness that lasts more than a week should be evaluated by an ENT physician. Contact Dr. Feinstein’s office to schedule your voice evaluation.