When the voice is gone: hoarseness
Doctors refer to hoarseness, dysphonia or voice disorder as hoarseness , scratchy and harsh, or in the worst case, when the voice sounds hoarse, scratchy and rough, or in the worst case, disappears completely. There are various causes of hoarseness: on the one hand, it can be caused by dry throat mucosa, on the other hand, the vocal cords can be red and swollen, which can impair voice production. Hoarseness can also sometimes be caused by speaking too loudly and for too long. What are the other reasons and what is the treatment?
Our voice: Nothing but hot air?
To put it very simply, our voice is actually just a stream of air that is released from the lungs and is deformed and changed on its way out to create a sound. The larynx , which is located at the transition from the throat to the windpipe
, plays an important role here. The larynx consists of cartilage connected to muscles and ligaments and is lined with a mucous membrane on the inside. The two vocal cords of the larynx are of great importance for sound production . The air stream from the lungs sets them in vibration . They can vibrate several hundred times a second. This is how voiced sounds are created.
But that’s not all: in order for sounds to really become speech, the air is directed from the larynx towards the vocal tract. The vocal tract describes the mouth, nose and throat. Together they form a resonance chamber . Here the tones previously produced by the vocal cords are amplified and deformed to form sounds and ultimately speech.
The latter is achieved by moving parts of the speech apparatus, i.e. lips, tongue and lower jaw. For example, the teeth are closer together when we say “i” than when we say “a”. In order to pronounce a whole word, we have to move our lips, tongue and lower jaw several times in succession.
Hoarseness due to swollen vocal cords and loud, intense speaking
The harmonious interplay between the vocal cords and the speech apparatus can easily be thrown out of balance. One of the reasons for this can be a viral infection. The disease causes the mucous membranes and vocal cords to swell, which can lead to hoarseness (dysphonia) or complete loss of voice. The same thing happens when the voice is overstrained by shouting or singing too loudly or for too long. The result: the vocal cords can no longer vibrate properly. What comes out of the affected person’s mouth usually sounds brittle, rough and hoarse – the person is hoarse.
Another factor that causes people who speak a lot for professional reasons (frequent talkers) to become hoarse is the drying out of the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat. Normally, a very thin, protective film of secretion covers the mucous membranes in this region. Loud and intense speaking causes this film to dry out – the throat becomes scratchy, coughing and hoarseness set in , and in the worst case, the voice disappears.
In addition to excessive voice use , air that is too dry or cigarette smoke can also have a negative effect on the throat. The resulting drying out of the mucous membrane irritates the throat mucous membrane. This causes the voice to sound hoarse, hoarse, weak and croaking. In addition, hoarseness (dysphonia) is sometimes accompanied by symptoms such as coughing, difficulty swallowing and a scratchy throat.
Speaking with a Mask
The voice suffers especially in difficult moments, as we experienced during the pandemic of the Corona crisis. When masks that cover the mouth and nose are required to be worn in public buildings and public transport, this has an impact on the way we speak . So that the person we are talking to can understand us better, we raise our voices and this can lead to hoarseness due to the louder and more strained speaking.
In addition, wearing a mouth and nose covering also makes breathing more difficult for many people and the moistening of the mucous membranes in the mouth and throat is sometimes restricted, which in turn has a negative impact on the voice . This particularly affects people who rely on a mask for several hours in their job, such as pharmacists, PTAs, salespeople or hairdressers.
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Other measures to contain the spread of viruses include “spit guards” and the recommended minimum distance of one and a half to two meters between people. A protective device is often found at the checkouts in supermarkets, drugstores or at bank counters and anywhere where the minimum distance cannot be maintained. However, these partitions not only make it more difficult for viruses to be transmitted from person to person, but also make it difficult to speak through this “barrier” .
In order to be understood correctly, we usually automatically speak louder. The development of hoarseness through loud speaking is therefore inevitable in many cases. Of course, this also applies when people are forced to speak loudly over a greater distance.
spit protection walls and large distances
Hoarseness can be acute or chronic
Doctors differentiate between acute and chronic hoarseness based on the duration .
If it is caused by a cold or increased short-term vocal strain, doctors refer to it as the acute form. It usually only takes a few days for the voice to return to normal.
A chronic illness is one in which hoarseness lasts for several months. In this case, not only have the vocal cords thickened, but vocal cord nodules often form as well. These are uneven thickenings on the edge of the vocal cords that can occur due to permanent overuse of the voice. Singers or people who talk a lot for work are particularly at risk of developing such nodules.
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Proper treatment for hoarseness
If you are hoarse, you should rest your voice to prevent it from failing completely. To strengthen your scratchy, hoarse voice, you should keep talking to a minimum and only speak in a low voice. You should avoid strained whispering altogether, as this puts additional strain on the vocal cords and vocal folds.
Voice gone? - Help with hoarseness
But what do you do when hoarseness sets in? GeloRevoice ® helps to bring back the lost voice, for example if the hoarseness (dysphonia) has developed due to excessive use of the voice. Suck up to six throat lozenges per day as needed. GeloRevoice ® can also be taken over a longer period of time. This is particularly recommended if you regularly put strain on your voice, for example in a profession that requires a lot of talking, such as a teacher, salesperson, singer or call center employee.
How does GeloRevoice ® work ? The unique Revoice Hydro-Depot ® forms a protective film on the mucous membrane in the mouth and throat and protects it from further irritation. People with dysphonia notice that their hoarse voice improves quickly. More on the principle of action .
A notice:
If hoarseness keeps coming back despite self-treatment, you should see a doctor. The same applies if the symptoms last longer than three weeks. More on treating hoarseness.
Home Remedies for Hoarseness
If your voice is gone or fails, ribwort plantain and sage are just two examples of medicinal herbs that have proven effective in the natural treatment of dysphonia . How are these herbs used correctly and which home remedies also help with hoarseness?
FAQs: Important information at a glance
Where does sudden hoarseness come from?
Hoarseness usually occurs as a result of a cold. Overuse of the voice and psychological stress such as stress can also trigger hoarseness.
How long does hoarseness last?
If hoarseness is caused by causes such as an infection of the mucous membranes or overuse of the voice, it usually only lasts a few days. If hoarseness lasts longer than three weeks, it is advisable to seek medical advice.
What makes hoarseness worse?
If you are hoarse, you should protect your voice by not whispering or speaking particularly loudly. If possible, you should take a short break from talking. You should especially avoid drinking alcohol and smoking. Dry air from heating systems can also dry out irritated mucous membranes. Make sure you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
