Common symptoms of a voice disorder include:
- Hoarseness
- Breathy vocal quality
- Chronic cough or excessive throat clearing
- Vocal strain or fatigue
- Inability to speak loudly
- Loss of voice
- Reduced pitch range or sudden change in overall pitch
- Sudden or gradual change in overall vocal quality
- Tremulous quality in the voice
- Diplophonic (double-toned) quality
- Decreased breath support during speech
Hoarseness is the most common symptom of a voice disorder. Anyone who has had hoarseness for more than a week should see a doctor. In most cases, hoarseness and other voice problems are a result of vocal abuse and overuse. In some cases, however, hoarseness may be a symptom of vocal cord paralysis, neurologic disease, acid reflux, thyroid disorders or cancer. Other voice symptoms may be the result of infectious diseases, such as Lyme disease, syphilis or a fungal infection, or a symptom of previously undiagnosed asthma or lung disease.
