What is hoarseness?

Hoarseness or dysphonia is when your voice gets abnormally strained, coarse, raspy, or breathy. It is also associated with changes in the volume and pitch of your voice.

How does our voice work?

Vocal cords are the key structures in creating sounds, our voice. They are two bands of smooth muscle structures positioned opposite to each other, located at the larynx. The larynx is an important structure just above the trachea (windpipe).

These vocal cords are open when we are breathing but snap together when we are speaking, allowing the air to pass through, causing vibrations that resonate as sound.

When the cords are relaxed it causes our voice to get deeper, tensing makes the voice higher. Same way any inflammation or trauma to it can cause hoarseness.

What are the common causes of hoarseness?

A few of the most common causes of hoarseness are

  • Infection and inflammation
  • Heart burn
  • Vocal cord nodules or cysts
  • Non-cancerous growths
  • Cancerous tumours

Who is at risk of getting their voice hoarse?

Hoarseness can happen to anybody irrespective of age and gender. Almost 1/3 of the population might have already experienced this in their lifetime.

People who use their voice more commonly as a profession are at more risk.
• Professional singers
• Public speakers
• Teachers
• Dubbing artists
• Call center operators
• People with pre-existing neurological disorders, ex. Parkinson’s disease.
• Smokers
• Alcoholics

What factors contribute to or worsen hoarseness?
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol
  • Screaming
  • Talking too loudly or whispering
  • Inhaling toxic substances
  • Allergies
  • Coughing excessively
Is Hoarseness a serious condition?

Hoarseness is considered as a symptom. It, by itself, is not a disease. Most of the time, hoarseness is not due to any serious condition. Many are self-limiting and gets back to normal on its own. However, persistent hoarseness may be a sign of throat cancer.

How does everybody have a different voice when the physiology is same?

Two people may sound alike but their voices will not be exactly same. The quality of our voice – volume, pitch and tone, is determined by the size and shape of our vocal cords and resonating cavities. These will differ with every individual and is just as unique as the fingerprint.

Is hoarseness a sign of throat cancer?

Hoarseness can be a sign of cancer of the larynx. You might also notice other symptoms like a lump in the throat, weight loss along with hoarseness.

Can hoarseness be a sign of stress?

Yes, hoarseness could be a sign of stress. Psychological stress can cause sudden onset hoarseness or even a sudden cessation of voice. Loud coughing or throat clearing is still possible while the limitation is only to the speaking voice.

Can dehydration cause hoarseness?

Dehydration can be bad for the vocal cords. Good hydration can help prevent hoarseness and promote healing in case of acute onset hoarseness with a diagnosed larynx infection.

Do thyroid diseases have a connection with hoarseness?

Thyroid diseases can cause changes in the voice. Hypothyroidism can cause your voice get low and rough. Some nodules of the thyroid may disturb the vocal cords because the thyroid glands sit right below the larynx.

Why is my voice hoarse in the morning?

Morning hoarseness could be because of heart burn. GERD or Heart burn gets worsened upon lying down; when you are lying down at night the stomach content goes up until the throat as reflux and irritates the vocal cords. It causes coughing and the constant urge to clear the throat.

When should I see a doctor for my hoarseness?

• It does not go away after 2-3 weeks
• Difficulty breathing
• Pain and/or difficulty while speaking
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Lump in the throat
• Throat swelling
• Pain and/or difficulty swallowing
• Coughing up blood

How is the cause for hoarseness diagnosed?
  • Your Doctor will start with asking you a few questions regarding Medical and Personal history.
  • Following the History collection a brief Physical examination will be carried out. Your throat will be examined.
  • An endoscopic visualization will be done of your throat using a laryngoscope.
  • Furthermore, a biopsy sample might be collected from the laryngoscope procedure if the Doctor finds anything suspicious. Or other tests like CT or MRI might be ordered if needed.

How is hoarseness treated?

Hoarseness can be due to a variety of causes ranging from a simple infection to Cancer. It must be evaluated by a doctor and a diagnosis be made before deciding the treatment plan.