Hoarse Voice That Won’t Go Away? Causes and When to See a Doctor
A reader wrote in saying their voice has stayed hoarse and just will not go back to normal. That can sound minor, but any change in health that sticks around, is worth investigation.
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), hoarseness means your voice may sound raspy, breathy, strained, softer than usual, or lower in pitch. The throat can also feel scratchy.
The agency states that hoarseness is often tied to a problem involving the vocal folds in the larynx, also called the voice box.
A lot of people may brush this off because it seems like one of those things that should pass in a few days. Sometimes it does. If it doesn’t, get checked.
The Cleveland Clinic states that laryngitis is one of the most common causes, and that can happen with allergies, sinus trouble, or an upper respiratory infection that makes the vocal cords swell.
For example, someone who spends a weekend yelling at a game, talking over loud noise, or pushing their voice harder than normal can wind up hoarse for a while.
NIDCD says voice overuse and misuse are common reasons, and the Cleveland Clinic adds that aging can change the vocal cords too, making the voice sound different over time.
More than one possible cause
The truth is, there are many potential causes for hoarseness. For instance, Reflux is another big one. NIDCD reported that gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD, can irritate the throat when stomach acid rises upward. In some people, that irritation reaches the larynx.
The same source says this kind of reflux-related hoarseness may be worse in the morning, and some people keep feeling like they need to clear their throat.
Other causes are less common, for example, the Cleveland Clinic adds that vocal nodules, cysts, and polyps can affect the voice, and so can vocal cord paralysis, muscle tension dysphonia, and certain neurological conditions.
The possible causes don’t end there, thyroid problems, injury to the larynx, and in some cases laryngeal cancer can be behind a voice change that does not go away. This is why it’s important to seek medical attention.
Clues that can help you understand it
When it comes to a main symptom like hoarseness, it’s the secondary symptoms that often reveal more of the cause.
A scratchy throat, recent cold, allergy flare, or sinus symptoms can point more toward laryngitis or irritation.
Hoarseness that feels worse after heavy talking may fit voice strain.
Reflux can come with throat clearing, morning symptoms, or classic heartburn, though some people with laryngopharyngeal reflux do not feel heartburn at all. So this symptom may not be as revealing.
Then there are symptoms like pain when speaking or swallowing, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, coughing up blood, a lump in the neck, or losing your voice. All of which are reasons to get checked right away.
When it comes to a hoarse voice that hangs around, know that most cases are not caused by something serious, but persistent hoarseness deserves medical attention, especially when red-flag symptoms show up.
Any changes to your health, even your voice, needs medical attention.
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