“Voicebox” is a rather inaccurate term. You may have, at one time in your life, envisioned your voicebox as a literal box inside of your throat. Your actual voicebox isn’t really box-like at all and is a bit stranger.
When people use the phrase “voicebox,” they’re usually talking about an organ in your throat called the larynx. (Vocal cords would be a much more accurate term.) And your personal, unique voice is created by your larynx.
Your larynx vibrates the air moving through your trachea. Your voice is actually made of these vibrations. Your lips, tongue, and other soft tissues mold that voice into words and communication. But your larynx produces the actual tone. Which is why, occasionally, you may experience illnesses or conditions that silence your voice. You might try to speak but it comes out raspy, thin, or just quiet.
A condition known as laryngitis is usually the cause.
What’s wrong with your voice
Think of your larynx as a couple of flaps inside a tube. These flaps will vibrate when air moves over them. This vibration produces sound, and this sound is your voice. That’s, essentially, how your vocal cords work!
This deceptively basic function normally works perfectly. However, anything that impedes that vibration will ultimately minimize the sound of your voice. Laryngitis is typically the cause.
But sometimes there can be other reasons that your vocal cords don’t want to function. Here are a few:
- Damage to your vocal cords
- Nodules or cysts on your vocal cords
- Paralysis of the vocal cords
- GERD (gastroesophageal reflux)
- Neurological reasons
However, you should try treating laryngitis first since that is normally the cause.
What is laryngitis?
One of your body’s main defense mechanisms is inflammation and there are numerous reasons it can happen. When the vocal cords become inflamed laryngitis is the outcome. Usually, this swelling disrupts the regular operation of your larynx. When they’re inflamed, your vocal cords won’t vibrate correctly. As a result, the air passing through your trachea picks up no vibrations. In other words, you lose your voice!
This can happen because of injury or illness. So how does laryngitis occur? And what are the symptoms of laryngitis? Well, that depends on the type of laryngitis you’re experiencing. There are two primary categories of this specific voice-stealing condition.
Acute laryngitis
Acute laryngitis is the most prevalent type of laryngitis. Essentially, this means that your symptoms will probably recede within the usual begin-and-end dates of this affliction. For most individuals, laryngitis will take care of itself within a few weeks. You don’t even really need to do anything!
Some other infection or illness is normally the cause of acute laryngitis. Often, this includes:
- Influenza
- Sinus infections
- The common cold
- Bronchitis
Three weeks is the duration that ENTs generally expect acute laryngitis to improve, at most. Given adequate rest, your symptoms will ultimately go away and your voice will recover.
Chronic laryngitis
Chronic laryngitis happens when your laryngitis does not go away after a few weeks like it normally does. Symptoms of this disorder can continue for months. Typically, this long term form of laryngitis is a result of the following:
- Irritation related to medications
- Exposure to irritants, such as chemicals
- Infections and disease (such as chronic sinus infections)
- Smoking (and yes, that includes vaping)
- Stressing your voice (doing lots of shouting, yelling, cheering, singing, etc.)
- Throat injuries (such as a collision)
The root cause will dictate the treatment in these cases. In some circumstances, chronic laryngitis can ultimately cause damage to the vocal cords or cause polyps or nodules to form on the larynx. You might want to know when to see a doctor about laryngitis. If the discomfort is too much for you to handle or if it lingers for three weeks or more.
In other words, if your laryngitis does not clear up by itself, it’s important to schedule an appointment with us to get to the bottom of what’s happening!
How is laryngitis treated?
Laryngitis is typically treated at home. Even when patients do nothing special or extra, the symptoms will typically go away by themselves within a few days to a few weeks. Home remedies for laryngitis are normally designed to minimize symptoms or improve your overall comfort. Here are some of the most common:
- Keep the air moist by using a humidifier
- Try not to talk too much so your voice will have time to rest and recuperate
- Drink water and a lot of other fluids
- Warm salt water is good for inflammation so try gargling some
- Abstain from decongestants, as these will essentially dry out your throat
We can suggest some treatments that may make you feel better and reduce swelling if your laryngitis doesn’t clear itself up in a couple of weeks. Here are a few:
- Corticosteroids: If you really need to talk (perhaps you have a big presentation) this short-term solution may be applied. The symptoms of your laryngitis, including swelling, will be decreased by the steroid treatment. However, this option isn’t intended to be long-term.
- Antibiotics: There may be some more uncommon instances where antibiotics will be called for but since laryngitis isn’t usually a bacterial infection, that isn’t usually the case.
- Voice therapy: If you’re dealing with chronic laryngitis and it simply will not go away, you may need to adjust, and learn a new way of speaking that doesn’t strain your vocal cords quite as much. Voice therapy can help with that.
Your voice will return from vacation
Laryngitis is a really common affliction. Luckily, once the root condition is managed, your voice will usually return. Most often, your immune system will take care of this on its own.
So when your vocal cords start aching, and your voice starts to waver, it’s a good plan to listen to your body. Your larynx is, after all, much cooler than a basic box and is also an important part of how you hear.
Call us for a consultation to talk about any worries you may have.