Dysphonia refers to having an abnormal voice. It is also known as hoarseness. Dysphonia has many causes which are detailed below. Changes to the voice can occur suddenly or gradually over time. The voice can be described as hoarse, rough, raspy, strained, weak, breathy, or gravely. There may be voice breaks where the voice completely stops or cuts out. There may be pitch changes, either higher or lower for the patient. The patient may have a complete loss of voice for a period of time as well. Sometimes the patient will complain of pain with speaking or singing and difficulty projecting the voice. Most commonly, dysphonia is caused by an abnormality with the vocal cords (also known as vocal folds) but there can be other causes from problems with airflow from the lungs or abnormalities with the structures of the throat near the vocal cords. Show The most common sign of laryngitis is hoarseness. Changes in your voice can vary with the degree of infection or irritation, ranging from mild hoarseness to almost total loss of your voice. If you have chronic hoarseness, your doctor may review your medical history and symptoms. He or she may want to listen to your voice and examine your vocal cords, and he or she may refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist. These techniques sometimes are used to help diagnose laryngitis:
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TreatmentAcute laryngitis often gets better on its own within a week or so. Self-care measures, such as voice rest, drinking fluids and humidifying your air, also can help improve symptoms. Chronic laryngitis treatments are aimed at treating the underlying causes, such as heartburn, smoking or excessive use of alcohol. Medications used in some cases include:
You may also have voice therapy to learn to lessen behaviors that worsen your voice. In some cases, you may need surgery. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Email ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data.To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Dealing with a hoarse voice is frustrating — especially if a few days go by without any improvement. And if it really drags on, you may start to wonder how long is too long for a hoarse voice to linger? "Most of the time, hoarseness is acute and lasts only a few days. However, it can last longer," explains Dr. Apurva Thekdi, ENT doctor specializing in laryngology at Houston Methodist. "It's considered chronic when it persists for two weeks or more. And chronic hoarseness isn't just inconvenient. It can sometimes be a sign of a more serious underlying health condition." Hoarseness is the most noticeable symptom of laryngitis, which is when your vocal cords are inflamed or irritated. The swelling that accompanies this inflammation prevents your vocal cords from vibrating properly, causing changes to the sound and volume of your voice. And from being sick to yelling too much at a concert or sporting event, there are a few obvious explanations for losing your voice. But what about when your voice is persistently hoarse without a clear reason or any accompanying symptoms? What causes chronic hoarseness?"If you have a cold or another type of upper respiratory infection, it's not unusual to experience some amount of hoarseness. This isn't something we worry about too much. 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. Thekdi. The most common causes of chronic hoarseness are:
Chronically inflamed or irritated vocal cords can lead to strain and injury — so it's important to get chronic hoarseness checked out. "Additionally, while rare, chronic hoarseness can be a sign of cancer, and this isn't something we want to miss. When caught early, throat cancer is very curable," says Dr. Thekdi. 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. How is chronic hoarseness treated?Treating chronic hoarseness starts with treating the underlying cause of the laryngitis. The first line of treatment you can do at home, such as:
"The most effective self-care treatment is typically voice rest — simply not speaking for an entire day, for example," says Dr. Thekdi. "However, if hoarseness persists beyond two weeks of at-home remedies, it's time to see a specialist," says Dr. Thekdi. "Through a 30-second, in-office scope evaluation, we can examine your vocal cords and identify what's causing your issue." In addition, seeing an ENT voice specialist can help separate your symptoms from those of other common conditions. "Sometimes chronic hoarseness is attributed to allergies or acid reflux. But in reality, it's rare for either of these conditions to cause persistent hoarseness," adds Dr. Thekdi. "This is something we can easily rule out by visualizing the larynx." 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. For more serious vocal cord issues, surgery may be needed. "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. Thekdi. "We can also use surgery to treat other types of vocal cord issues that don't respond to voice therapy." Most important, Dr. Thekdi says don't wait to see an ENT voice specialist if you're experiencing chronic hoarseness. "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. Left untreated, serious complications or permanent damage to your vocal cords can occur. Lastly, it's also very important to rule out cancer," adds Dr. Thekdi. When should I worry about hoarseness?You should see your doctor if your voice has been hoarse for more than three weeks, especially if you haven't had a cold or the flu.
What are the 4 underlying causes of a hoarse voice?If you talk too long, cheer too loudly, sing too much or speak in a pitch that's higher or lower than usual, you may experience hoarseness. Also, your vocal cords naturally get thin and limp with age. It's perfectly common for your voice to get raspier as you get older.
What can cause hoarseness for months?The most common causes of chronic hoarseness are:. Overusing your voice, which is most common in individuals who use their voices professionally (performing artists, teachers, salespersons and speakers). Persistent bacterial or viral infection.. Polyps, cysts or nodules on your vocal cords.. Vocal cord paralysis.. What makes the hoarseness go away?Hoarseness due to chronic laryngitis typically improves by eliminating the underlying cause. This may mean not smoking; learning to use your voice more efficiently; and treating any allergies, reflux or other infection.
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