

For more information, contact the vocal health experts at UPMC’s Voice Center at 412-232-SING (7464).Įditor's Note: This article was originally published on January 21, 2019, and was last reviewed on January 31, 2023.Laryngitis is the inflammation of your larynx, also called your voice box, that can be caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections as well as by injury from tobacco smoke or overusing your voice.
LARYNGITIS BUT NOT SICK PROFESSIONAL
But when the clues don’t add up to overuse or laryngitis, it’s time to get a professional consultation. Under normal conditions, occasionally losing your voice is simply part of life. If left untreated, this condition can be life-threatening in both children and adults. Croup can go away after about two weeks, but severe cases can lead to epiglottitis, which is an inflammation of the tissues that act as a lid over the trachea, or windpipe. These symptoms can be a sign of a condition called croup, which is an inflammation of the larynx and the airway beneath it.

Growths on your vocal cord tissue, also called vocal nodules, polyps, cysts, and contact ulcers.Acid reflux, known as heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD).Experiencing unexpected hoarseness or voice loss can indicate an underlying health condition. If you’ve lost your voice and can’t identify an obvious cause, make an appointment to see your doctor. But when the symptoms of laryngitis extend beyond two weeks, it’s considered chronic and should be checked out by your physician. Laryngitis left untreated will typically go away within about two weeks. Your voice may sound deeper than usual, scratchy, or altogether gone. Depending on the culprit of your laryngitis, other symptoms can include a dry or sore throat, trouble swallowing, irritation, and coughing.

The other most common cause of voice loss is acute laryngitis. If you’ve recently attended a concert or cheered on your favorite sports team, your vocal cords have likely been overused. There are a number of reasons you may have gone hoarse or completely lost your voice, even if you’re not sick. Now that you know how your voice normally works, you’re probably wondering which one of those anatomical parts is malfunctioning? And most importantly, why? Other factors include the voluntary tightening and loosening of your vocal cords to elevate and lower pitch, such as when you imitate the sound of a siren. The type of sound produced depends on the size and shape of your vocal cords and mouth. When you’re sitting quietly, breathing, those cords are relaxed and open.īut when it’s time to say something, they squeeze together so that the air flowing through vibrates the tissue and creates sound. The larynx is a hollow organ that houses your vocal cords. How the Voice Box Worksīetween the base of your tongue and the top of your trachea sits your larynx, more commonly known as the voice box. But first, let’s establish how your body produces sound in the first place. Rest assured, there are logical reasons why you may have lost your voice. But for the rest of the world, losing your voice can be a mystery, especially when there’s no obvious answer. If you’re a professional singer, you may know exactly why your voice gets occasionally hoarse.
