Hoarseness is the term given to a temporary change in your voice quality and pitch. A hoarse voice can register lower on the pitch scale than you normally speak, and have a raspy, uneven quality. The American Academy of Otolaryngology explains that hoarseness can be caused by several conditions: laryngitis, which occurs when your vocal cords become inflamed due to overuse or a virus; the development of growths on your vocal cords; neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease; acid reflux; or a hemorrhage of the blood vessels near your vocal cords. The treatment for hoarseness varies according to the nature of your problem.
Rest and Voice Modification
Overusing your voice is a main cause of hoarseness. Rest and voice modification can, in many cases, give your vocal cords time to heal so that your full vocal power is restored. Refraining from screaming or talking in a loud voice can give your voice a break. Don't whisper either; MayoClinic.com points out that whispering can also strain your voice. If you do a lot of public speaking, be sure to use a microphone that amplifies your voice without any added effort on your part. Warming up before giving a speech, singing or even cheering on your child's sports team can be ways to prevent hoarseness. Enunciating vowel sounds on a sliding pitch scale--going from low to high--or trilling your lips can prepare your vocal cords for heavy use.
Hydrate
Fix hoarseness by keeping your throat moist as much as possible. Drinking at last eight 8-oz. glasses of water daily ensures that your throat tissues are hydrated; hoarseness is more likely when you are dry. Nicotine, caffeine and alcohol can dry you out more and can intensify your hoarse voice quality, so not using these substances may remedy your problems easily. Gastroesophageal reflux is also a cause of hoarseness in some people. If you suffer from GERD and notice a diminished voice quality, eliminate or limit the amount of spicy or acidic foods you eat, to help you get your voice back.
Medical Intervention
Hoarseness that stems from chronic inflammation of your throat tissues or polyps or lesions on your vocal cords may require medical intervention. MayoClinic.com reports that corticosteroid medications can reduce inflammation that has made you lose your voice, but that the medication is usually reserved for people who use their voice professionally or have another urgent need to be vocal. Growths that appear on your vocal cords can either be benign or cancerous, and are removed through surgery. Once the tumors are removed and you have recovered from the procedure, hoarseness usually disappears.
