Silverstein Institute
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Hoarseness: Recognize the Causes & Seek Professional Guidance for Treatment

Written by Silverstein Institute
Published: 17 Aug 2020

hoarseness throat ear sinusOur voice is one of our most defining characteristics. It allows us to communicate with loved ones near and far.  Inflection helps us to express our emotions to others.  Many people also rely on their voice for their livelihood.  Those who use their voice professionally make up over 30% of the workforce and include singers, actors, teachers, medical professionals, lawyers, and salespeople, just to name a few.  For most of us, loss of our voice (even for a very short time) can be a devastating event.


Related Blog: Hoarseness and Loss of Voice

If you experience a change in your voice, you should see a specialist to be evaluated. Many patients delay seeking treatment for a variety of reasons. Some just think that losing one’s voice with age is normal or hope that the problem will go away or perhaps even fear that they have a cancer in their throat. More often than not, that isn’t the case. But even if it is, catching a cancer at the early stage when it first affects our voice almost certainly means it is readily curable with an excellent voice outcome.

The majority of hoarseness, however, comes from much more common causes such as inflammation due to infections, overuse of the voice, or, occasionally, acid reflux. Non-cancerous masses due to viral infections or the trauma of everyday voice use are also possible. But probably the most common cause of hoarseness is simply mechanical; due to people changing the way they are using the very delicate muscles of the voice box without ever realizing that they are doing it.

Diagnosis and treatment of voice disorders requires a physician with interest and expertise in the field of voice. Laryngologists are Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgeons who have spent an additional year of training specifically focusing on the diagnosis and management of disorders of the voice, airway, and throat. A Laryngologist can closely examine both the structure and the function of the vocal cords using high definition video endoscopes along with a technique called stroboscopy. This allows the physician (and the patient) to see the finest details of the vocal cords, as well as their individual vibrations, which are the critical component to sound production.

Whatever the cause, the first step towards treating a voice problem is establishing an accurate diagnosis with the aid of the latest imaging and voice analysis technology. Your Laryngologist will then discuss a treatment strategy for any medical or surgical therapies that may be recommended. They will likely work closely with a Speech and Language Pathologist for treatment of any mechanical issues through a course of Voice Therapy. A positive outcome for restoration of the patient’s voice is the team’s ultimate goal.

Contact Silverstein Institute today to schedule an appointment with our specialists and get the help you need.

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