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A number of conditions can also cause hoarseness.Ī common cause is acute laryngitis (vocal cord inflammation) usually caused by a viral upper respiratory tract infection. Hoarseness is typically caused by injury or irritation of the vocal cords. Voice changes like strained, raspy, lower or higher in pitch, weak, breathy, fatigued, inconsistent or shaky voice.Vocal professionals (public speaker, singer) who can't do their job.Hoarseness that lasts over four weeks, particularly if you smoke.Serious changes in your voice lasting more than several days.If you experience any of these signs of hoarseness, you will want to make an appointment with an otolaryngologist or an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor as soon as possible: If you can hardly speak, you may talk in a raspy whisper. encouragement to a losing team or celebration to a winning team) or have a bad cold, you could wind up with a raspy voice.Ī raspy voice tends to sound like it had to pass through a grater or a rasp (a scraping tool) to get out of your mouth. A sound is raspy when it's scratchy or rough. When your voice is hoarse, it may sound raspy. Hoarseness results when anything alters the closure or vibration of your vocal cords. When you breathe your vocal cords (folds) are separated, however, when you make a noise, they come together and they vibrate when the air is leaving your lungs. This typically occurs when you have a problem in the vocal cords of your larynx (voice box) which produces sound. It often makes it difficult for you to talk. Hoarseness, or dysphonia, is where you have an abnormal change in your voice quality, which makes it sound: It's important to know hoarseness isn't a disease in itself, but rather a symptom. If you are in the Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge or the surrounding Foothill communities, and you are looking for exceptional care from a community hospital that cares, schedule your appointment by calling (818) 790-7100.Hoarseness is a presentation doctors see in primary care and ear, nose and throat practices, and is the reason for around one percent of all primary care consultations.
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Be sure to tell your physician if your throat is sore, if you experience other symptoms, and if the laryngitis doesn’t get better after a few days of rest. Continuing to irritate damaged vocal folds can create hard bumps or nodules that can harden and may need surgery if they go untreated. It’s also important to remember that laryngitis can be the result of other illnesses. Try to let your volume increase gradually, instead of starting out on the highest volume. Breath from the diaphragm and keep your neck muscles relaxed while you speak.
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