Loss of voice is an often benign and temporary condition that can happen to anyone. However, it can have various causes, and depending on the symptoms and its persistence, it may be necessary to consult a doctor to treat the cause.
1. Causes of loss of voice
Since the voice is produced by the larynx and the vocal cords, any attack on the innervation of the laryngeal muscles, the muscles themselves or the mucous membrane of the vocal cords is likely to result in loss of voice. The main cause of loss of voice is laryngitis, ie inflammation (-itis) of the larynx. Its origin can be:
- infectious, bacterial or viral;
- mechanical, after overwork (shouting, singing, repeated coughing, etc.);
- secondary to another neurological or infectious pathology (papillomavirus, syphilis, etc.);
- caused by allergens or toxins (especially tobacco smoke);
- due to irritation caused by acid reflux in the event of gastroesophageal reflux (they generally lead to the appearance of a granuloma, that is to say an accumulation of immune cells);
- traumatic, caused by surgery (e.g. removal of the thyroid) or intubation.
Other causes of loss of voice include vocal cord damage, specifically nodules (usually affecting both vocal cords and resulting from chronic trauma), cysts, and polyps (often secondary to acute traumaas stated in the MSD manual).
2. How long does a loss of voice last?
The duration of a loss of voice directly depends on its cause. In benign voice extinctions, due to overwork, it only takes 24 to 48 hours for the voice to regain its normal intonation. In cases of intense overwork, the return to normal occurs in a few days at most. When the inflammation of the larynx is due to a nodule, a polyp or a cyst, the symptoms will tend to worsen in a few days, even in a few weeks, and medical care is essential. In general, it is recommended to consult quickly (even urgently) when:
- loss of voice continues beyond a week, despite appropriate behavior or treatment;
- it is consecutive to a surgical operation;
- it is accompanied by edema in the neck and/or significant pain;
- it is accompanied by a fever and/or respiratory disorders (especially in a child).
As the MSD manual points out, laryngeal cancer can cause hoarsenessand if it persists for several weeks, a medical examination must be carried out to rule out this possibility.
3. What to do in case of loss of voice
In the event of loss of voice, and before thinking of drug treatment, there are simple measures to put in place to promote the return to a normal voice.
- Avoid soliciting your voice. Put her to rest, avoiding talking as much as possible (and even whispering, as this irritates the larynx just as much).
- Make sure that the surrounding air is not too dry. Use a humidifier or, failing that, place a bowl of water near a radiator.
- Eliminate the sources of irritation, starting, if necessary, with tobacco.
- Relieve laryngeal inflammation by regularly drinking water at room temperature. You can drink lemon water.
You can also gargle with water and half a teaspoon of coarse salt, or with lukewarm water in which you have mixed a teaspoon of honey (ideally thyme, lavender or rosemary) . It is only if these measures prove to be insufficient and on medical advice that you may be required to take medication.
- Viral laryngitis cannot be treated strictly speaking. It will mainly be a question of relieving the symptoms, and in particular the pain, with paracetamol. It may be useful to use corticosteroids.
- Laryngitis of bacterial origin will be treated with antibiotics.
- If it is a repeated cough that is causing the loss of voice, cough suppressants may be prescribed.
- If laryngitis has an allergic origin, antihistamine treatment can be initiated.
- If it is gastroesophageal reflux that irritates the larynx, it will be necessary to treat them specifically with the help of drugs adapted to the situation: antacids, proton pump inhibitors, establishment of good food hygiene, etc.
For people who have to use their voice very frequently (singers among others), speech therapy can be very useful to teach them to spare their voice or to limit irritation of the vocal cords and larynx. Consulting an ENT specialist is also recommended in the event of persistent disorders.
Sources:
The MSD Manual, The MSD Manual, The General Mutual
Read also :
⋙ Hoarse, broken, hoarse… How to take care of your voice
⋙ Soft solutions against voice extinction
⋙ Dysphonia: causes, symptoms and diagnosis of this voice disorder