Medically known as dysphonia, hoarseness is a common and usually temporary condition due to inflammation of the vocal cords. Your voice feels strained, and it may be pitched higher or lower than normal while sounding raspy and not as loud as usual.
Usually, hoarseness isn’t a cause for concern, but there are times when you may need medical attention from the voice professionals at Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates. Today, we look at how hoarseness starts and when it’s time for treatment beyond home care.
Like other muscles in your body, the vocal cords are prone to overuse and inflammation under certain circumstances. Speech comes as you control your vocal cord muscles, shaping the flow of air into the appropriate vibrations.
A sudden change in size of these muscles due to inflammation or irritation affects the way your vocal cords respond. This is similar to the way movements change when you strain a muscle in your arm or leg.
Virtually anything that affects your vocal cords or larynx, also called the voice box, can cause hoarseness. These can include:
Most episodes of hoarseness are temporary and pass with rest or relief from the underlying condition.
We recommend treating hoarseness that lasts at least three weeks, particularly when any reason for vocal cord irritation is gone. It’s particularly important if your hoarseness wasn’t caused by events like allergies, cold, or flu.
Other symptoms can also increase the urgency for medical evaluation. Contact us as soon as possible if your hoarseness is accompanied by any of these symptoms:
We can examine and diagnose the reasons for your hoarseness as well as developing a treatment plan for your return to full voice. When necessary, this can include corrective voice therapy; think of this as physical therapy for your vocal cords.
Call or click to request your appointment with the nearest office of Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates in Lawrence or Ottawa when persistent hoarseness becomes a problem. We’re standing by to help.
