You probably expect your voice to be a little raspy or gravely after a long night of singing along at an Embassy Theater concert. That’s completely normal. But if your voice frequently turns hoarse with seemingly no underlying cause, it’s worth asking why. Voice loss isn’t just annoying. It can be a sign of something going on with the vocal cords.
Let’s look at some of the most common causes of hoarseness and when it might be time to see an ENT specialist.
Common Causes of Frequent Voice Loss
There are a few reasons a voice might fade more often than it should. Some are temporary, while others may require ENT help:
- Vocal strain. Overusing the voice is one of the biggest culprits of hoarseness. Teachers, coaches, singers, customer service reps or anyone else who talks a lot can wear down their vocal cords. Yelling and whispering are especially harsh on the voice.
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). With LPR, stomach acid travels to the throat and irritates the vocal cords. This can lead to hoarseness, chronic throat clearing and voice loss.
- Vocal cord nodules. Vocal cord nodules are small, benign or cancerous growths that can form on your vocal cords. Nodules form over long periods of vocal strain. Some factors can make you more susceptible to vocal cord nodules, including smoking, allergies, sinusitis, hypothyroidism, acid reflux, chronic coughing, consuming excessive alcohol or caffeine and using your voice when sick with a respiratory infection.
How an ENT Specialist Can Help
If you’re losing your voice frequently, it’s time to see an ENT specialist. An ENT specialist looks at the vocal cords using a laryngoscope to identify the underlying cause of you hoarseness.
They may look for:
- Inflammation or redness
- Growths like nodules or cysts
- Acid damage
- Nerve problems that affect vocal cord movement
They may recommend voice therapy, medication for reflux or voice rest. In some cases, surgery might be necessary, especially for larger growths.
It’s easy to brush off hoarseness or voice issues, especially if you’re busy or not in pain. But your voice is part of how you connect, work and express yourself. Contact Ear, Nose & Throat Associates today to schedule your appointment with one of our throat specialists.