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Medical Author:

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Doerr received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with his Medical Degree from the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado in 1998 and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine from Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in 2002, where he also served as Chief Resident.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• What is hoarseness?
• What causes hoarseness?
• What are the signs and symptoms of hoarseness?
• How are the causes of hoarseness diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for hoarseness?
• How is hoarseness prevented?
• Hoarseness At A Glance
• Patient Comments: Hoarseness - Causes
• Find a local Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctor in your town
• Hoarseness Index

Hoarseness can be prevented in some instances, for example:

• Avoid situations that require excessive strenuous voice use, and if a person needs to project their voice, use a microphone if possible.
  
  
• Voice therapists or singing teachers may be helpful in certain cases to assist individuals with vocal training and voice modification.
  
  
• Smoking cessation can prevent hoarseness or the development of cancer of the larynx.
  
  
• Individuals with hoarseness caused by gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) can benefit from medications and dietary modification (such as avoiding alcohol, caffeine and spicy foods).

• Hoarseness is an abnormal change in the voice.
  
  
• The most common cause of hoarseness is acute laryngitis.
  
  
• The underlying cause of hoarseness can usually be diagnosed by a health care practitioner based on the patient's history and physical exam.
  
  
• The treatment for hoarseness depends on the underlying cause.
  
  
• Hoarseness can be prevented by avoiding excessive strenuous voice use and smoking cessation.