Westside Voice and Swallowing



SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY PRIVATE PRACTICE

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What You Can Do To Treat Your Hoarse Voice

What Are Some Causes of a Hoarse Voice:
There may be one or more causes for a hoarse voice. The origins can be structural, neurological, functional, or physiological in nature. 
Some causes for a hoarse voice are:

  • Laryngitis

  • Misusing or overusing your voice 

  • Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) 

  • Vocal nodules, polyps, and cysts 

  • Vocal fold hemorrhage

  • Vocal fold paralysis

  • Thyroid problems

  • Injury to the larynx 

  • Neurological diseases and disorder

  • Chronic stress disorders

  • Anxiety/Depression

  • May sometimes be a symptom of laryngeal cancer


What You Can Do To Treat Your Hoarse Voice:
There are several ways to help the voice recover in addition to seeking out professional help. A speech-language pathologist or voice therapist will provide evidence-based practices to treat and train the voice. Ways you can actively work towards a healthier voice are:

  • Identifying behaviors and unhealthy vocal hygiene practices

  • Shouting 

  • Talking loudly over noise

  • Coughing/ throat clearing

  • Poor hydration

  • Implementing healthy vocal hygiene practices:

  • Drinking plenty of water  

  • Diet modifications (e.g., reducing spicy foods and caffeine, eating a few hours before sleeping)

  • Talking at a moderate volume

  • Practices to reduce vocally traumatic behaviors (e.g., voice conservation)



References:
Frequently Asked Questions About Voice Therapy. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 

https://www.asha.org/slp/clinical/frequently-asked-questions-about-voice-therapy/ 

Voice Disorders. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

https://www2.asha.org/PRPSpecificTopic.aspx?folderid=8589942600&section=Overview 

Hoarseness. National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hoarseness 
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