Hoarseness usually results from some kind of damage to the vocal chords. A person with a hoarse voice has difficulty speaking and often displays a change in the pitch or tone of his voice. Laryngitis is the most common cause of chronic hoarseness, report doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center, and is the result of inflammation of the vocal chords. Treatment of hoarseness varies depending on the cause.
Rest
Whether hoarseness is short-term or chronic, lasting weeks or months, the treatment is often the same. Laryngitis does not respond well to medical treatment and is best remedied with rest, report University of Maryland doctors. Trying to talk, shout or cry out exacerbates the condition and prevents healing. Patients should avoid talking completely until the hoarseness goes away. Whispering, which is harder on the vocal chords than talking out loud, can strain the vocal chords as well. Gargling and decongestants also can irritate the vocal chords and prolong the hoarseness. A humidifier that adds moisture to the air may relieve any discomfort.
Behavior Modification
When rest alone does not remedy the hoarseness, sometimes behavior modifications are required, report doctors at the Ear, Nose and Throat Associates of Corpus Christi. Smoking can hinder the healing of damaged vocal chords and patients are encouraged to quit, at least until they get their voices back. Those who don't smoke should avoid secondhand smoke while in the healing process. Screaming and yelling often cause chronic hoarseness and patients are taught how to monitor their voice levels to avoid hoarseness. Patients with hoarseness due to coughing are encouraged to drink plenty of fluids to break up the mucus that gets caught in the throat and causes the laryngitis.
Surgery
If a lesion or polyp is identified on the vocal chords, surgery can be implemented to remove the nodule. Physicians use a scope to check the vocal chords and esophagus when hoarseness persists and doesn't respond to rest. If a foreign object is trapped in the respiratory tract, it is removed and the hoarseness usually disappears in a couple days, report doctors at the National Institutes of Health. Throat cancer is a serious cause of laryngitis that is treated with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. If a tumor in the throat cannot be removed, oncologists sometimes remove the vocal chords completely.
