Hoarseness
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Hoarse voice
Sore throat
Scratchy throat
Throat pain
Throat hurts to swallow
Itchy throat cough
Throat pain when swallowing
Ear and throat pain
Constant throat clearing
About the Symptom
It refers to having an abnormal voice making it sound raspy, strained, or breathy. It may due to any number of things including viral illnesses, injury, surgery, reflux, post-nasal drip, vocal abuse, or even masses or lesions on the vocal folds. Voice changes lasting longer than a couple of weeks or with bleeding (hemoptysis) should consider seeking medical attention.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Abnormal menstruation
- Edema
- Respiratory wheeze
- Difficulty breathing / breathlessness
- Facial edema
- Fever
- Chest pain during swallowing
- Dysphagia
- Small voice
Possible Causes
Generally, Hoarseness can be related to:
- Vocal Cord Paralysis
A condition in which the nerves that supply the vocal cords are damaged, causing poor movement (paresis) or complete absence of movement (paralysis). If presenting in infancy, it can be either due to conditions affecting the brain or brainstem where the nerves exit the skull or due to surgery on the heart or lesions in the chest. Surgery on the neck, especially the thyroid gland, can also damage the nerves. Viral infections and intubation can also cause injury to the vocal folds or nerves.
- Thyroid Tumor
A tumor in the thyroid gland. Most are non-cancerous, but some may be malignant. The primary symptom is a lump in the front of the neck along the thyroid gland. Workup includes ultrasound, biopsy, blood tests, and sometimes other scans.
- Vocal Cord Polyp
These are often benign masses on the vocal folds and may result from extended periods of vocal strain (e.g., singing, shouting) or vocal trauma. Symptoms may include hoarseness, coughing, feeling like something is in your throat (globus), and pain. Only a medical professional can determine if these are benign polyps or more serious conditions, such as cancerous masses. It is important to seek medical attention and consider a biopsy of the lesions to confirm diagnosis.
- Mediastinal Tumor
- Aortic Aneurysm
- Pharyngeal Tumor
- Sinusitis
- Acute / Chronic Tracheitis / Bronchitis
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Hoarseness may be related to these serious diseases:
- Anaphylaxis
A severe allergic reaction that affects the entire body. It can be life-threatening due to low blood pressure and airway swelling (preventing breathing). Anaphylaxis can be triggered by various things, including foods, insect stings, and medications.
- Acute Epiglottitis
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have a hoarse or husky voice?
- When did you first notice your hoarse or husky voice?
- How is your hoarse or husky voice now?
- Have you experienced a hoarse voice for over three weeks?
- Does your hoarse voice worsen in the morning?
Reviewed By:
Eric A. Gantwerker, MD, MMSC (Otolaryngology (ENT))
Pediatric Otolaryngologist at Northwell Health and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He holds a Master of Medical Science (MMSc) in Medical Education with a special focus on educational technology, educational research, and game-based learning from Harvard Medical School and a Master of Science in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University. He has a special interest in faculty development and has been a speaker or faculty at hundreds of local, national, and international courses and conferences. He is also an active blogger and podcaster for several organizations, including the Harvard Macy Institute (HMI), Harvard Medical School CME Online, and BackTable Innovations. He has been featured in the news and print for media outlets such as USA Today, Businesswire, The Washington Post, Nature Medicine, Fox News, and KevinMD. He was also the Vice President, Medical Director of a medical video game company, Level Ex from 2018 to 2023 that utilized game technology and psychology to create interactive experiences for healthcare professionals. | He is recognized as an expert on the implementation of educational technologies and gaming with a foundation in educational theory for health professions education. He was honored to be inducted as an Associate Member of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators and as an Associate Fellow of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE).
Rohini R, MD (Otolaryngology (ENT))
Dr. Rohini R is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, with a Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine and Lasers. Besides clinical practice and working with Ubie, she is actively training and mentoring medical students and residents. She has functioned in various work settings - teaching hospitals, private and free health centers, and worked with patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds due to her experience in free hospitals and volunteering in India and Singapore.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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- Abnormal voice changes
- No improvement in hoarse voice even after a few weeks
- My voice sounds coarse in the evening/at night
- My voice sounds hoarse in the evening/at night
- Hoarse voice from talking too much at work
- My voice sounds coarse when I wake up
- My voice sounds weird
- Voice has remained hoarse for several weeks
- Talking till my voice is hoarse at work
- My voice sounds coarse in the morning
- Hoarseness of voice
- Hoarse voice not getting better after a few weeks
- A deeper voice in the evening/at night
- Have been using my voice more at work
- My voice goes away in the morning
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FAQs
Q.
How Many Days Does It Take to Recover Your Voice?
A.
Most cases of voice loss recover within one to two weeks. However, it's important to see a doctor if it lasts longer than two weeks.
References:
Wood J M, Athanasiadis T, Allen J. Laryngitis BMJ 2014; 349 :g5827 doi:10.1136/bmj.g5827
Reiter R, Hoffmann TK, Pickhard A, Brosch S. Hoarseness-causes and treatments. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2015 May 8;112(19):329-37. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2015.0329. PMID: 26043420; PMCID: PMC4458789.
Neighbors C, Hashmi MF, Song SA. Dysphonia. 2024 Feb 12. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 33351439.
Gupta G, Mahajan K. Acute Laryngitis. [Updated 2022 Sep 12]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-.
Q.
Can COVID-19 Cause Your Voice to Be Hoarse?
A.
Yes, a respiratory virus like COVID-19 can cause inflammation in the throat that then leads to hoarseness.
References:
Lin CW, Wang YH, Li YE, Chiang TY, Chiu LW, Lin HC, Chang CT. COVID-related dysphonia and persistent long-COVID voice sequelae: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Otolaryngol. 2023 Sep-Oct;44(5):103950. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2023.103950. Epub 2023 Jun 8. PMID: 37354724; PMCID: PMC10250057.
Mohamed-Hussein AA, Wafy SM, Makhlouf HA, Taghyan AM, Eldin AB. Sudden hoarseness of voice in COVID-19 patient. Lung India. 2021 Mar;38(Supplement):S116-S118. doi: 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_863_20. PMID: 33686994; PMCID: PMC8104358.
Q.
Is There a Way to Cure a Hoarse Voice Overnight?
A.
There is no proven way to reliably cure a hoarse voice overnight.
References:
Reiter R, Hoffmann TK, Pickhard A, Brosch S. Hoarseness-causes and treatments. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2015 May 8;112(19):329-37. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2015.0329. PMID: 26043420; PMCID: PMC4458789.
House SA, Fisher EL. Hoarseness in Adults. Am Fam Physician. 2017 Dec 1;96(11):720-728. PMID: 29431404.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Judd O, Colvin IB. Hoarse voice. BMJ. 2010 Apr 7;340:c522. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c522. PMID: 20375088.
https://www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c522Voice Changes - Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/voice-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20353022