Rough Voice

Rough Voice

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If your voice sounds rough or husky, you may have dysphonia – commonly called hoarseness. Maybe you talked too loud in a crowded restaurant, or maybe there’s an underlying medical condition for this symptom. Hoarseness should go away after a short time but, if it lasts for three weeks or more, you should see your healthcare provider.

Cancer Research UK. Laryngeal Cancer. (https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/laryngeal-cancer/symptoms) Accessed 5/16/2021.
ENT Health. Hoarseness. (https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/hoarseness/) Accessed 5/16/2021.
House SA, Fisher EL. Hoarseness in Adults. Am Fam Physician. 2017 Dec;96(11):720-728. Accessed 5/16/2021.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Hoarseness. (https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hoarseness) Accessed 5/16/2021.

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Hoarseness (dysphonia) is when your voice sounds raspy, strained or breathy. The volume (how loud or soft you speak) may be different and so may the pitch (how high or low your voice sounds). There are many causes of hoarseness but, fortunately, most are not serious and tend to go away after a short time.

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You can speak thanks to your vocal folds (vocal cords) and larynx (voice box). Your larynx sits above your trachea (windpipe) – the airway that goes down to your lungs. The vocal cords, which are two bands of muscle, are inside your larynx, and they open and close. When you speak, air from your lungs makes the cords vibrate, creating sound waves. If you relax (shorten) your vocal folds, your voice will sound deeper. It will be higher pitched if the vocal folds tense or elongate.
Hoarseness is very common. About one-third of people will have it at some point in their lives.
Anyone at any age can experience hoarseness. This symptom is most common in people who smoke and those who use their voices professionally like teachers, singers, sales representatives and call center operators
Hoarseness can be a symptom of lung cancer. It’s more commonly associated with laryngeal cancer.
No. Your vocal cords and larynx do not affect your heart.
Yes, stress (mental/emotional) is one of the more common causes of hoarseness.
Yes. Post nasal drip is one of several possible causes of hoarseness.
Hoarseness can sometimes be a symptom of laryngeal cancer.
There are several possible causes of hoarseness. Many are harmless. Causes include:
Depending on your symptoms, your usual healthcare provider may refer you to an otolaryngologist or ENT (ears, nose and throat specialist). After getting your medical history and a list of your medications, your ENT may ask the following questions:
After that, your ENT will want to listen to your voice and examine your head and neck. They’ll check for any lumps in your neck and examine your voice box using a laryngoscope, which is a lightened instrument that will be inserted into the back of your throat through your nostrils. If there is cause for concern, your healthcare provider may order the following tests:
Treatment depends on the condition causing the hoarseness. The conditions and their treatments include:
If you experience hoarseness repeatedly because you use your voice so much every day, you might need to see a speech-language pathologist for voice therapy. There are exercises you can do and you’ll be taught how to use your voice to avoid hoarseness.
There are some easy ways to prevent a hoarse voice. You should practice them especially if you use your voice for professional reasons, particularly if that’s every day. Try the following to help prevent hoarseness:
If your voice is still hoarse after three weeks, you should see your healthcare provider. You should see a healthcare provider before then if you have any of the following:
Your voice is one of the most important tools for communication, so it’s important to keep it working well. Hoarseness can be annoying or – if you use your voice professionally – distressing. Take care of your voice by drinking enough water, avoiding caffeine and smoking and using a microphone or other amplification tool if you need to speak loudly. Remember to see your healthcare provider if the hoarseness lasts three weeks.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/18/2021.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.
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You may have a voice disorder if you have a problem with pitch, volume, tone, and other qualities of your voice. These problems occur when your vocal cords don't vibrate normally.
Your voice is the sound that air makes when it is forced out of your lungs and passes over your vocal cords. Vocal cords are the 2 folds of tissue inside your larynx, also called the voice box. The vibration of those cords is what produces speech.
Examples of voice disorders include:
For normal speech, your vocal cords need to touch together smoothly inside your larynx. Anything that interferes with vocal cord movement or contact can cause a voice disorder. Many voice disorders can be cured with treatment when diagnosed early.
Voice disorders can be caused by many factors. In some cases, the cause of a voice disorder is not known. Possible causes can include:
If you have a voice disorder, your voice may:
You may have tension or pain in your throat while speaking, or feel like your voice box is tired. You may feel a "lump" in your throat when swallowing, or feel pain when you touch the outside of your throat.
If you have a voice change that lasts for a few weeks, your healthcare provider may send you to see a throat specialist called an otolaryngologist (Ears, Nose and Throat specialist or ENT). An otolaryngologist will ask you about your symptoms and how long you've had them. He or she may examine your vocal cords and your larynx using certain tests. These may include:
Treatment for a voice disorder depends on what's causing it. Treatment may include:
Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:
At Another Johns Hopkins Member Hospital:
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Medical Author:

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Definition

Hoarseness facts What is hoarseness?

Causes

What causes hoarseness? How are the causes of hoarseness diagnosed?

Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of hoarseness?

Treatment

What is the treatment for hoarseness?

Prevention

How is hoarseness prevented?

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What are the signs and symptoms of hoarseness?
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Medically reviewed by Martin E. Zipser, MD; American Board of Surgery

REFERENCE:
MedscapeReference.com. Acute Laryngitis Treatment and Management.

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digestion health center / digestion a-z list / related resources / hoarseness article

Hoarseness is an abnormal change in the voice caused by a variety of
conditions. The voice may have changes in pitch and volume, ranging from a deep,
harsh voice to a weak, raspy voice.
Hoarseness is generally caused by irritation of, or injury to, the vocal cords. The larynx (also referred to as the voice box), is the portion of the respiratory ( breathing ) tract containing the vocal cords. The cartilaginous outer wall of the larynx is commonly referred to as the "Adams apple." The vocal cords are two bands of muscle that form a "V" inside the larynx. When we sing or speak, the vocal cords vibrate and produce sound.
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