Hoarseness

Our voice is not only unique to every individual but it is our most important method of communication. Our voice is formed as exhaled breath moves between the vocal cords in the larynx (or voice box) them and causes them to vibrate. The vibrations, like a guitar string, produces sound. The mouth and tongue then modify the voice to produce spoken words.

The vocal cords are two very delicate adjacent ligaments stretched from front to back across the larynx and covered by a thin membrane. The shape, tension and airflow between the vocal cords are controlled by a complicated set of muscles in the larynx that open and close them. They open widely for breathing and close tightly when swallowing to keep food out of the lungs. In talented singers they become a marvelous musical instrument. For the rest of us, it’s just our voice but when things go wrong it results in hoarseness.

Hoarseness is a problem that affects all of us at one time or another. It is a sign that something is wrong with the vocal cords. The most common condition, called acute laryngitis, is an inflammation or swelling of the vocal cords caused by a virus or sinus drainage. It usually occurs suddenly with minimal or no sore throat and may be associated with a cold. It usually lasts several days to one week and requires no treatment other than not overusing the voice and avoiding airborn irritants like tobacco smoke which could make swelling worse. Keeping the throat moist by drinking a lot helps as well.

Actually anything that changes the way vocal cords vibrate can change the voice and cause hoarseness including vocal membrane swelling.

Swelling of the vocal membranes can be caused by sinus drainage, stomach acid reflux into the throat, allergic and chemical irritation, polyps, thyroid diseases, and simple voice straining from overuse. Vocal nodules are a common type of vocal cord swelling caused by chronic overuse. It’s very common in loud children, singers, and those who talk a lot and causes a raspy voice sound. Most of these causes can be corrected with proper medical therapy. Nodules often respond well to voice rest or speech therapy but like some other causes occasionally require surgery for improvement .
Unfortunately, cancer of the larynx and throat is also a cause of hoarseness, especially in smokers. Serious neurologic conditions can also show up first as breathy type hoarseness from vocal cord paralysis. The only way these can be properly diagnosed is with an evaluation by an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist When diagnosed early, cancers of the larynx can usually be cured and the voice saved. . Anyone with hoarseness lasting more than several weeks, and especially smokers, need an evaluation to determine the cause. If you or someone you care about has this problem, don’t wait until it’s too late.