Where Did My Voice Go?

I woke up this morning and my voice was gone! Of course there is a reason why this happened, but this morning I’ve been wondering exactly what happens when we lose our voice and what’s the best way to get it back.

So last night a bunch of us nurses and our spouses went to a Karaoke Bar and had a great time. We sang, we laughed, we partied pretty hard. It was awesome.

As the night went on, my voice started to change. It began to sound different. Lower. Hoarser. Quieter.

Maybe this has happened to you after a fun night of karaoking (is that even a word? lol), or when you went to a supremely amazing concert and sang all night, or the last time you cheered on your favorite sports team. You had the most amazing time, but your voice wasn’t prepared to go quite as hard as you did.

The main reason that we lose our voice when we yell/cheer/sing/scream is that our vocal cords vibrate/slam against each other which causes inflammation. This swelling prevents their normal vibration, resulting in you losing your voice. In most cases, losing your voice is not a serious condition and it will pass in a matter of a few days as the inflammation goes away.

A more serious reason for voice loss after a night of strenuous use is a vocal cord hemorrhage. Vocal cord hemorrhage results when one of the blood vessels on the surface of the vocal cord ruptures and the soft tissues of the vocal cord fill with blood. It is considered a vocal emergency and is treated with absolute voice rest until the hemorrhage resolves. You should also see an otolaryngologist as soon as possible (American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, 2017).

But there are plenty of times that we lose our voice and we haven’t had a fun night of karaoke jamming. In fact, the most common reason people lose their voice is acute laryngitis related to a viral infection. We’ve all gotten a cold or the flu and lost our voice. In these cases, it’s important to treat the cause of the sickness and see your doctor.

So what should we do after we’ve overused and lost our voices?

First and foremost, we have to rest our vocal cords. This means limiting speech and conversation. Obviously it may be hard to stop talking all together for a few days, but you should make every effort to let that voice rest as much as possible.

Secondly, drink water. Rehydration is critical to restoring your voice. It also helps keep your throat wet and moist. Drink often, and keep it strictly water (acidic beverages can irritate the lining of your esophagus and cause reflux, which could worsen the problem).

Thirdly, use steam. Warm showers, humidifiers, steam bowls with a towel over your head, and soaking in a hot bathtub can all help bring moisture to and soothe your vocal cords.

Some healthcare providers suggest gargling saltwater. This can help hydrate your throat and soften your vocal cords.

So those are some of things you should do, but there are also some things you shouldn’t do after you’ve lost your voice.

Do not continue to use your voice, let it rest as much as you can. Also, believe it or not, you shouldn’t whisper. This actually strains the vocal cords even more.

Avoid smoking and alcohol, as this will just continue to irritate and dehydrate your vocal cords.

Finally, try not to “clear” your throat. It doesn’t help the situation.

Your voice should return within a day or two. If it’s been more than two days, you should certainly make an appointment with your doctor, who may even refer you to a otolaryngologist. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Cheers.