Hoarseness or changing voice

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Throat anatomy

Hoarseness is described as having difficulty producing sound when trying to speak, or a change in the pitch or quality of the voice. The voice may sound weak, excessively breathy, scratchy, or husky.

Voice strain; Dysphonia; Loss of voice

Hoarseness is usually caused by a problem in the vocal cords. Most cases of hoarseness are associated with inflammation of the larynx (laryngitis).

Persistent hoarseness (hoarseness that lingers for weeks or months) may be caused by a variety of problems ranging from trivial to dangerous.

• Laryngitis
• Excessive use of the voice (as in shouting or singing)
• Allergies
• Inhaling irritating substances
• Excessive use of alcohol or tobacco
• Coughing (may be caused by allergies or some diseases such as bronchitis )
• In children, prolonged or excessive crying
• Viral illness
• Gastric reflux (acid from the stomach irritating the voice box)

Other causes include:

• Heavy smoking and drinking, especially in combination
• Overall weakness caused by other diseases
• Tonsillitis
• Ingestion of a caustic liquid
• Foreign body in the esophagus or trachea
• Infectious mononucleosis
• Postnasal drip
• Vocal cord nodules or paralysis (post-surgical)
• Bronchoscopy or other tests (temporary)
• Puberty
• Cancer of the voice box (laryngeal cancer)

Review Date: 08/03/2005
Reviewed By: Alden J. Pearl M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.