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Hoarseness

Voice strain; Dysphonia; Loss of voice

Hoarseness refers to difficulty making sounds when trying to speak. Vocal sounds may be weak, breathy, scratchy, or husky, and the pitch or quality of the voice may change.

Images

Throat anatomy
Voice box

Considerations

Hoarseness is most often caused by a problem with the vocal cords. The vocal cords are part of your voice box (larynx) located in the throat. When the vocal cords become inflamed or infected, they swell. This can cause hoarseness.

The most common cause of hoarseness is a cold or throat infection, which most often goes away on its own within 2 weeks.

A rare but serious cause of hoarseness that does not go away in a few weeks is cancer of the voice box.

Causes

Hoarseness may be caused by:

Less common causes include:

Home Care

Hoarseness may be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic). Vocal rest and time may improve hoarseness. Hoarseness that continues for more than 4 weeks should be checked by a health care provider.

Things you can do at home to help relieve the problem include:

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider if:

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

The provider will examine your throat, neck, and mouth and ask you some questions about your symptoms and medical history. These may include:

You may have one or more of the following tests:

References

Akst L. Hoarseness and laryngitis. In: Kellerman RD, Rakel DP, Heidelbaugh JJ, Lee EM, eds. Conn's Current Therapy 2023. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:28-33.

Flint PW. Throat disorders. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 401.

Stachler RJ, Francis DO, Schwartz SR, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline: Hoarseness (Dysphonia) (Update). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018;158(1_suppl):S1-S42. PMID: 29494321 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29494321/.

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Review Date: 11/29/2022  

Reviewed By: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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