Hoarseness

A change in vocal quality characterized by rough, harsh, or breathy phonation with impaired voice strength or pitch control, typically resulting from dysfunction or inflammation of the vocal folds or other laryngeal structures.

Causes

• Voice strain or overuse

• Vocal cord nodules/polyps/cysts

• Inflammatory and infectious causes

  • Laryngitis

  • Allergic laryngitis

  • Upper respiratory tract infections

• Environmental and lifestyle factors

  • Tobacco smoking

  • Alcohol consumption

  • Excessive caffeine intake

  • Air pollution

  • Environmental allergens

• Gastroesophageal causes

  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease

  • Laryngopharyngeal reflux

• Neurological causes

  • Vocal cord paralysis or paresis

  • Parkinson's disease

  • Stroke

  • Other neurological disorders affecting laryngeal function

• Thyroid disease

• Aging-related vocal fold atrophy (presbyphonia)

• Laryngeal cancer

• Trauma to the larynx

• Previous neck or thyroid surgery

• Endotracheal intubation injury