Hoarseness (Change in Voice)

When a patient notices a change in the voice quality, or if they get voice fatigue or experience voice strain – an assessment of the vocal cords could be beneficial. There are multiple causes for this like laryngitis (normally after an upper respiratory tract infection), vocal cord nodules (normally in people who sing or speak a lot like preachers, teachers etc), vocal cord polyps (often this happens after shouting), Reinke’s oedema (swelling of the cords normally due to smoking), vocal cord palsy (this could be due to lung pathology as the nerve that makes the cords move have a tract that runs through the chest before it turns up and infiltrate the voice box), acid reflux and tumours.

The ENT surgeon will take a thorough history, examine the neck and mouth area and do an indirect laryngoscopy or use the scope to do a naso endoscopy. The treatment can range from medication (in the case of reflux and laryngitits), speech therapy (for small vocal cord nodules) and surgery.