Virtually everyone experiences occasional problems with their voice on a periodic basis. You could find yourself losing your voice entirely, or sounding hoarse and having a scratchy throat.  In most cases, the problems you are experiencing are just temporary and your voice gets better and goes back to normal without you having to do anything to help it.  In some cases, however, the loss of your voice or a hoarse and scratchy throat can be a symptom of a medical problem that you need to get treated.

If you have a continuous feeling that there is a lump in your throat, if your hoarseness has persisted for a while, or if you have noticed that your voice is changing, you should strongly consider speaking with one of our ear, nose and throat specialists. Our skilled medical care providers will have a detailed discussion with you about your symptoms and will perform a thorough medical examination in order to determine the cause of your throat issues.  Once you understand the reason for your symptoms, the best treatment option can be chosen.

Laryngitis is a common voice disorder, which is caused by an inflamed voice box. A lost voice, or a hoarse voice, are symptoms of this condition, which can be either acute or chronic.

Acute laryngitis often results from a cold or a viral infection. The condition should go away on its own even if you do not seek any treatment.  Resting your voice, drinking ample water, and staying out of smoky places can help you to cure your laryngitis without medical intervention in most situations.

If your symptoms last for a long time, your laryngitis may be classified as chronic.  Smoking, allergies, and alcohol are some of the most common reasons for chronic laryngitis.  Treatment needs to be tailored to the cause of your chronic condition, and may include lifestyle changes. After a thorough examination of your larynx, our ea, nose and throat specialists can help you to determine how you can best manage and treat your symptoms when you suffer from a chronic condition.

The way in which you use your voice and the environment that you live in can cause a hoarse throat or the loss of your voice.  Yelling often, whispering excessively, or spending lots of time in a smoky environment are all possible causes of laryngitis or other conditions affecting the voice.

The best method of treatment is to eliminate the environmental or behavioral conditions causing your health issues.  If you have allergies, this can mean undergoing an allergy test to learn what to avoid.

Our ear, nose, and throat specialists can help you to identify allergens, or to identify different behavioral and lifestyle choices you can make. Speech therapy may also be recommended in some cases to learn how to more effectively use your voice to avoid doing damage to it.

Acid reflux can affect the voice and cause a variety of different problems.  Acid reflux occurs when your stomach asset leaks back up your oesophagus, irritating the throat and your vocal chords.  A sore throat, a feeling of a lump in your throat, and heartburn are all potential symptoms that your problems could be associated with acid reflux.

Avoiding triggering food and drinks, like spicy foods, can be a viable treatment solution for throat problems caused by acid reflux. Anti-reflux drugs can also relieve symptoms and help your throat to feel better.