My Voice Has Changed and Sounds Different β Should I Worry?
Your voice is a part of your identity, so a change in how you sound can feel unsettling. Here is what to know.
Voice changes can happen for many reasons β some temporary, some lasting longer.
- Common causes include:
- Laryngitis β from a cold or virus; the most common cause of temporary voice change
- Vocal cord strain β from yelling, singing, public speaking, or talking too much
- GERD (acid reflux) β "silent reflux" can irritate the vocal cords and change the voice
- Allergies or post-nasal drip β mucus on the vocal cords affects sound
- Smoking β causes chronic swelling of the vocal cords, producing a deeper, rougher voice
- Vocal cord nodules β callous-like growths from overuse; common in teachers, coaches, singers
- Age-related changes β the voice naturally gets thinner or weaker with age
- Vocal cord paralysis β one vocal cord stops moving, causing a weak, breathy voice
- Laryngeal (voice box) cancer β rare, but more common in smokers
What to Look For
- Usually not serious:
- Voice change came with a cold or after using your voice a lot
- Improves with rest within 1β2 weeks
- Voice is hoarse or rough, but strong
- Comes and goes
- Worth having checked:
- Voice change that lasts more than 3 weeks
- Voice that is breathy, weak, or fading out
- Pitch change that does not go away
- Pain when speaking
- Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing
- Ear pain
- Coughing up blood
When to See a Doctor
- See an ENT doctor if:
- Your voice has changed for more than 3 weeks
- You are a smoker (even if you quit recently)
- Your voice is breathy or weak
- You have trouble breathing
- You have ear pain or throat pain