Lost voice reason

Why did my voice disappear and how to treat aphonia?

Loss of voice is one of the most unpleasant consequences of a sore throat. When a person cannot speak, his daily life turns into real agony.

Table of contents:

Even an ordinary request or question becomes a problem to voice.

When the voice disappears, doctors do not recommend whispering, since whispering requires even more effort than normal conversation. There can be many reasons for voice loss, among which ARVI or influenza are far from the only diseases that provoke aphonia. Before starting treatment, you should find out the cause of the disease and then carry out therapy. This should only be done under the supervision of a doctor.

Why does my voice disappear?

Loss of voice can be caused by both physiological reasons and various throat diseases

In order to understand why the voice disappears, you need to imagine how sound appears in the first place. It is formed by exhaling air through closed vocal folds. When the larynx becomes inflamed, the vocal folds cannot close completely - loss of voice occurs. The entire process of voice formation is controlled by the cerebral cortex, from where an impulse is sent to the nerves responsible for the tone of the vocal folds.

If, for example, one of the nerves is pinched or compressed by a tumor, the voice disappears. Loss of the ability to reproduce sound can occur for many reasons, and an inflammatory process in the larynx is not the only cause of aphonia.

Loss of voice sonority is often caused by chronic throat diseases.

A person, as a rule, is not surprised by hoarseness, since it appears as a result of a cold, laryngitis, or due to professional activity - singing, lecturing. However, if the voice disappears for no apparent reason, you should immediately consult a doctor. Such inexplicable soundlessness can signal a dangerous disease, for example, a malignant or benign tumor.

Loss of voice should not go unnoticed by a specialist. Doctors strongly discourage self-medication and advise immediately seeking qualified help.

Causes of voice loss

To identify the cause of voice loss, you need to pay attention to additional symptoms.

There are many causes of aphonia; only a doctor can determine them after an examination. The main, most common and rare causes are distinguished. Let's look at everything in order of frequency:

  • Infectious diseases, which include acute and chronic laryngitis, laryngotracheitis.
  • Aphonia is often provoked by inhaling fumes of harmful chemicals. This could be ammonia or another equally aggressive substance that is found in hazardous industries.
  • Diseases of the heart and thyroid gland can also cause inflammation of the vocal folds and subsequent loss of voice.
  • Loss of voice occurs due to allergic reactions. Rapid swelling occurs, the person cannot speak or even breathe.
  • Loss of voice after surgery - intubation, tracheotomy, thyroid surgery.
  • Benign or malignant neoplasms.
  • Vocal fold paralysis can occur due to a stroke, traumatic brain injury, tuberculosis, meningitis, syphilis, botulism or rabies.
  • Professional activities - singing, lecturing - can cause overstrain of the vocal muscles and subsequent loss of voice.
  • Aphonia can be a consequence of diseases such as hysteria, traumatic neurosis or neurasthenia.

More information on how to restore your voice can be found in the video:

The first and most common cause of aphonia is laryngitis. As a rule, it is this disease that causes partial or complete loss of sonority. There are two forms of it – acute and chronic:

  1. Acute laryngitis. The acute form of laryngitis often occurs due to respiratory viruses, swelling of the mucous membrane occurs and the vocal cords do not close tightly. Sometimes simple hypothermia or a sip of cold water is enough for an acute form of laryngitis to appear. Loss of voice occurs gradually - first there is hoarseness, a sore throat and then the sonority disappears. However, this order is completely optional; the voice can either become hoarse without loss of sonority, or disappear immediately. This disease also occurs against the background of overstrain of the vocal cords. In this case, we are talking about a non-infectious etiology of the disease. Acute laryngitis is treated under medical supervision.
  2. Chronic laryngitis. The chronic course of the disease is usually caused by constant stress on the vocal folds. The shape is typical for singers, lecturers, and smokers. Also at risk are people who work in hazardous work and constantly inhale toxic substances. They irritate the mucous membrane and provoke swelling, in which varying degrees of aphonia are observed. Chronic laryngitis is divided into three categories - catarrhal, atrophic and hypertrophic. Each type of disease requires individual treatment, which can only be carried out by a doctor.

Pathology treatment method

Medications are prescribed by the doctor depending on the cause of voice loss

Often, along with antiviral therapy, traditional methods of treatment are prescribed, which include inhalations and rinses. If voice loss is caused by overexertion, they try to restore sonority at home without the help of a doctor.

However, in this case, it is better to contact a phoniatrist - a specialist who deals with problems of the vocal cords.

  • Loss of voice is treated with antiviral agents, physiotherapy, inhalations and pharyngeal irrigation.
  • Anti-inflammatory and decongestant drugs are used - Ingalipt or Cameton.
  • In some cases, when the temperature rises or when there is severe intoxication, antibiotic therapy is prescribed - aerosols containing antibiotics, tablets or injections. This treatment is prescribed very rarely.

The traditional treatment regimen includes drinking plenty of fluids, bed rest, and following a diet - nothing spicy, salty or cold.

Smokers should give up the bad habit at least for the duration of treatment. It is very important to maintain silence, not to talk or whisper. Rinsing and inhalation are often combined with traditional medicine recipes.

Treatment of vocal cords begins with plenty of warm drinks

In addition to drinking, it is recommended to apply warm compresses to the throat. Wrap freshly boiled potatoes in a towel and warm your throat with it. At the same time, you can drink eggnog or herbal tea. After the procedures, be sure to wrap yourself in a warm blanket and try to sleep.

Traditional recipes work effectively together with traditional therapy. As a rule, the doctor himself recommends certain traditional methods of treatment as additional therapy.

What is the danger of sudden loss of voice?

Any advanced throat disease can cause complications, so all diseases must be treated on time

Sudden loss of voice is often caused by laryngitis, a cold, or due to overstrain of the vocal muscles. But it also happens that sonority disappears for no apparent reason. The voice may recover on its own, and then disappear again. Such an unclear nature of the disease can be the cause of a serious illness.

In this case, you should immediately contact a specialist. He will examine the larynx and find out the cause of aphonia. Often, such loss of voice indicates vocal cord paralysis, which can occur due to a neoplasm. The doctor will take the material for a biopsy and find out the nature of the tumor - malignant or benign.

Such loss of voice cannot be ignored; any delay can have a detrimental effect on health.

During the examination of the larynx, additional procedures may become necessary - radiography, ultrasound or esophagogastroendoscopy. Only after a complete examination will the doctor be able to make a diagnosis and prescribe effective treatment. Self-treatment for unexplained voice loss is not recommended. Time may be lost, and serious consequences will arise that will make it difficult to do anything about.

If the immune system is weak and a person has previously had a sore throat or flu, he should be especially careful. As preventive measures, you need to take care of yourself:

  • Do not overcool, do not drink cold water or soda, do not eat spicy or salty foods, do not smoke, and exercise.
  • If a person, due to the nature of his work, constantly strains his vocal cords, he should constantly monitor his throat. After exercise, it is better to remain silent, drink warm herbal tea, do not overcool, and do not smoke.
  • It is recommended to visit a phoniatrist at least once every six months, especially if you have previously suffered from laryngitis.

Many people try to treat colds at home without visiting a doctor. Such a frivolous approach to your health can end badly. Do not self-medicate and seek help from specialists in a timely manner. Don't forget that loss of voice can signal a dangerous disease.

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Comments (3)

01/17/2017 at 11:40 | #

My voice somehow disappeared after an evening spent at karaoke) After going to the doctor, he prescribed Isla-Mint lozenges and gargling with chamomile decoction. This seemingly simple treatment turned out to be effective. After just a couple of days it was all gone.

Olga

05/22/2017 at 14:29 | #

When I have frequent performances, I take Homeovox as the only remedy for restoring my voice afterward. An excellent drug

Elena

10/30/2017 at 12:37 pm | #

I am a music director and when there are problems with the voice, there is always complete vocal rest and natural tablets Homeovox - this is my effective recipe

leave a comment

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The medical information published on this page is strictly not recommended for self-medication. If you feel negative changes in your health, immediately contact an ENT specialist. All articles published on our resource are for informational purposes only. If you use this material or a fragment of it on your website, an active link to the source is required.

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Lost voice: reasons, what to do, how to treat and restore

Speech is one of the most important functions of the human body. Through speech, a person has the opportunity to communicate with others, exchange information, express his thoughts and desires. A person who has lost his voice cannot be considered a full-fledged member of society; he is disabled in a number of professions. The complete loss of voice sonority is called aphonia.

How is a voice formed?

The voice is sound vibrations that are formed during the forced exhalation of air through the closed vocal folds of the larynx. Voice formation is a voluntary act; it is regulated by the cerebral cortex, from where signals go to the nerves that regulate the tone of the muscles of the vocal cords.

Vocal folds are folds of the mucous membrane that protrude into the lumen of the larynx on both sides. Between the layers of mucosa in their thickness there is a vocal cord and vocal muscle. The vocal muscle has its own characteristics: the elongated muscle fibers in it run in different perpendicular directions, as a result of which it has the ability to contract during sound vibrations both in length and width, and vibrations can occur not only throughout the entire thickness of the muscle, but also its individual parts (half, third, only edges, etc.). This has implications for producing different sounds.

The vocal muscles are innervated by branches of the vagus nerve - the superior laryngeal nerve, as well as the recurrent nerve (the most important nerve regulating the tone of the vocal cords). The recurrent nerves (left and right) depart from the vagus at the level of the aortic arch and rise up to the larynx, while bending around the aortic arch (left recurrent nerve), the right subclavian artery (right), and pass along the posterior surface of the thyroid gland. Knowledge of the topography of the recurrent nerve is important in order to be able to anticipate the various causes of unclear loss of voice.

When breathing freely, the vocal folds are relaxed and the glottis is open.

To produce the sound of our voice, the vocal folds must be stretched and closed during the passage of a stream of air. They oscillate in length and width, and a sound is produced, similar to the sound produced when a stretched string is released.

Therefore, disruption of this process, up to complete loss of voice, can occur when the vocal folds do not close or close completely.

The cause of voice loss can be either a pathology in the larynx itself or a violation of the regulation of muscle tone of the vocal folds (damage to the nerves that innervate them, as well as damage to the muscles themselves). In these cases, a sonorous voice will not work; only whispered speech is possible, which arises from the friction of a stream of air against the walls of the larynx and oral cavity.

Main causes of voice loss

a) Pathologies localized in the larynx itself and affecting the vocal cords

1. Inflammatory infectious processes:

2. Toxic swelling and burns:

  • Chlorine poisoning.
  • Ammonia.
  • Acetic acid.

3. Allergic edema (Quincke's edema).

4. Swelling of the vocal folds due to systemic diseases accompanied by general swelling:

  • Severe heart failure.
  • Decompensated hypothyroidism.

5. Traumatic injuries to ligaments:

  • As a result of intubation during anesthesia or resuscitation.
  • After tracheotomy.
  • As a result of the entry of a foreign body.
  • Benign formations of the larynx (fibromas, papillomas, chondromas, etc.)
  • Laryngeal cancer.
  • Malignant tumors of neighboring organs with invasion (most often esophageal cancer)

b) Damage to the nerves that regulate the tension of the muscles of the vocal folds

1. Peripheral recurrent nerve palsy:

  • Injury to this nerve after surgery on the thyroid gland.
  • Compression of the recurrent nerve by tumors of the mediastinum, thyroid gland, enlarged lymph nodes, aneurysm of the aorta or subclavian artery.

2. Central paralysis of the vocal folds - lesions of the nuclei of the cranial nerves in the medulla oblongata, responsible for conducting impulses to the ligaments:

  • Strokes.
  • Brain tumors.
  • Traumatic brain injuries.
  • Intoxication.
  • Infections (tuberculosis, meningitis, botulism, rabies, syphilis, etc.)

c) Direct damage to the muscles of the vocal folds themselves

  1. Systemic myopathy.
  2. Some infectious diseases.
  3. Overstrain of the vocal muscles.

d) Functional paralysis of the larynx

  1. Hysteria.
  2. Neurasthenia.
  3. Traumatic neurosis.

Let's look at the most common causes of voice loss.

Acute laryngitis

Laryngitis is an inflammatory process that affects the mucous membrane of the larynx, affecting the vocal folds. Normally, the edges of the vocal folds are thin and stretched, due to this they are able to close tightly. With inflammation, swelling of the mucous membrane occurs, the edges thicken, become uneven, flabby, their closure is disrupted, and hoarseness occurs, sometimes to the point of complete loss of sonority. The inflammatory secretion accumulating in the lumen of the glottis further interferes with the closure of the folds.

The causative agents of acute laryngitis are most often respiratory viruses (influenza, parainfluenza, rhinosyncytial infection, adenoviruses), less often - bacterial or fungal flora. The provoking factor is usually hypothermia, drinking cold liquid.

With acute loss of voice due to vocal strain, we can talk about acute non-infectious laryngitis.

Also, the cause of acute laryngitis can be the irritating effect of dust and gases.

Symptoms

  • Dysphonia – varying degrees of voice impairment (hoarseness, roughness, hoarseness up to aphonia).
  • Dry hacking cough.
  • Unpleasant sensations in the pharynx and larynx - there may be pain, a feeling of a “lump”, rawness.
  • An increase in temperature is an unstable symptom and is not typical for isolated laryngitis (only as part of general viral intoxication).

Chronic laryngitis

Chronic laryngitis is a persistent inflammatory process in the mucous membrane of the larynx, which leads to persistent, sometimes irreversible damage to the ligaments and changes in the voice. Chronic inflammation is promoted by unfavorable factors that cause constant microtrauma to the mucous membrane:

  1. Smoking.
  2. Professional voice loads.
  3. Working in hazardous industries with substances that irritate the respiratory tract.
  4. Chronic lesions of the upper and lower respiratory tract (chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, bronchiectasis).
  5. Gastroesophageal reflux.

Based on changes in the mucosa and clinical course, the following forms of chronic laryngitis are distinguished:

Chronic catarrhal laryngitis is most often laryngitis of smokers. As a rule, complete loss of voice does not occur with it. Main symptoms: change in voice, hoarseness, hoarseness, dry cough, sputum may be coughed up in the morning.

Chronic hyperplastic laryngitis occurs more often in people whose profession involves constant vocal stress (singers, artists, lecturers, teachers). With this type of laryngitis, thickening, hypertrophy of the vocal folds, and the growth of various types of vegetation occur. This thickening is usually uneven, the folds do not close completely. One of the varieties of this laryngitis is round formations that form on the edges of the vocal folds - “singing nodules”. Clinically manifested by a feeling of discomfort in the throat, a feeling of obstruction in the larynx, a predominantly dry cough, a feeling of fatigue in the larynx during a conversation, as well as dysphonia and aphonia. Symptoms may be present to varying degrees constantly, periodically exacerbating.

Chronic atrophic laryngitis is a manifestation of systemic atrophy of the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and accompanies atrophic rhinitis and atrophic pharyngitis. Such patients are bothered by a constant feeling of dryness, itching, discomfort, voice disturbance, even complete loss.

Tumors

Loss of voice can sometimes be a symptom of a serious disease - a tumor of the larynx that directly affects the vocal folds, or a tumor of another location that compresses the recurrent nerve. Among tumors of other localizations, it is necessary to note tumors of the thyroid gland, esophagus, mediastinum, lung, as well as metastases to the lymph nodes of the mediastinum.

Suspicion of the malignant nature of the disease should be caused by gradual or sudden loss of voice, lasting more than 2 weeks, without signs of a cold.

degree of laryngeal cancer

It is necessary to pay attention to other signs of a malignant course: weight loss, loss of appetite, weakness, fatigue, difficulty swallowing, pain, enlarged peripheral lymph nodes.

Laryngeal cancer occurs predominantly in men over 40 years of age who abuse smoking and alcohol.

Loss of voice due to damage and compression of the recurrent nerve

In pathophysiology, there is the term “recurrent nerve syndrome” - this is a voice disorder, sometimes in combination with respiratory disorders (with bilateral damage).

The main causes of recurrent nerve syndrome:

  1. The most common cause of vocal fold paralysis associated with damage to the recurrent nerve is the consequences of operations on the thyroid gland (strumectomy, thyroidotomy). The recurrent nerve is very closely adjacent to the posterior surface of the thyroid gland, and a highly qualified surgeon is required during such operations in order to correctly isolate this nerve and not damage it.
  2. Benign and malignant tumors of the thyroid gland.
  3. Tumors of the thymus and parathyroid glands (sarcomas, thymomas, cysts).
  4. Tumors of the esophagus and pharynx.
  5. Lymphogranulomatosis.
  6. Tumor metastases to mediastinal lymph nodes.
  7. Lung cancer.
  8. Aneurysms of the aorta and subclavian artery.
  9. Cicatricial changes in the mediastinum after mediastinitis or surgery.
  10. Massive pleural adhesions and fibrosis in the apex of the right lung.
  11. A sharp increase in heart size in cardiac pathology.

What to do if your voice is lost?

Firstly, it is necessary to clearly know the situations when loss of voice may be a symptom of a life-threatening condition or a serious illness in which self-medication is unacceptable.

It is necessary to immediately seek medical help in the following cases:

  • Suddenly the child’s voice disappeared. In children, quite often, against the background of infectious diseases, croup can occur - acute stenosis of the larynx, one of the symptoms of which is loss of voice. Inhalation of a foreign body in children also cannot be ruled out.
  • Sudden loss of voice, accompanied by difficulty breathing. This applies not only to children, but also to adults.

They do not belong to emergency conditions, but also require examination of situations where voice loss develops gradually, without signs of a cold, and does not go away for a long time. This may be a symptom of a malignant disease, and self-medication in this case can be harmful and prevent a timely diagnosis.

If you are sure that loss of voice is a symptom of acute laryngitis, which developed against the background of an acute respiratory viral infection, after hypothermia or overstrain of the vocal cords (the voice has disappeared, but the throat does not hurt and there is no fever), you can try to take measures to eliminate this symptom.

What can you do at home for laryngitis?

  1. Voice rest. This is the first thing to give to inflamed ligaments. I'll have to keep quiet for a few days. If your profession involves speech workload, you will have to take sick leave.
  2. Food should not be cold, hot or spicy.
  3. It is recommended to drink plenty of warm drinks - heated milk, alkaline mineral water (Borjomi, Essentuki No. 4), herbal infusions (chamomile, thyme, rosehip), raspberry, currant, cranberry fruit drinks.
  4. The air in the room needs to be humidified to 50-60%. For these purposes, special humidifiers are used, or a wet towel on the heating radiator.
  5. Minimize, or better yet stop, smoking.
  6. If nasal breathing is impaired, take measures to restore it.
  7. Distractive procedures in the form of hot foot baths, mustard plasters on the feet and legs. At night - warm woolen socks with dry mustard poured into them.
  8. Warm compresses or a woolen scarf around the neck.
  9. Steam inhalations.
  10. Inhalation with saline solution or alkaline mineral water, inhalation of vapors of crushed garlic or onion.
  11. As a local anti-inflammatory agent, irrigate the pharynx with aerosols such as Kameton, Ingalipt.
  12. As a decongestant, you can take an antihistamine tablet (suprastin, tavegil, diazolin).

These are universal measures that need to be taken if you lose your voice due to laryngitis, and they probably won’t do any harm.

If voice restoration does not occur within 1-2 days, an examination by an ENT doctor is necessary. The doctor may prescribe antibacterial drugs, anti-inflammatory and decongestant drugs, as well as physical therapy.

Antibiotics for acute laryngitis are rarely prescribed, only in cases of severe disease, with high fever, intoxication, and coughing up purulent sputum. They are prescribed both locally (Bioparox aerosol) and orally (Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Cephalexin, Macropen).

A dry cough causes additional tension on the vocal cords. Therefore, if you are bothered by a debilitating dry cough, you can take antitussive drugs (Codelac, Sinekod, Stoptussin, Libexin) for several days and suck on lozenges with sage.

Additionally, calcium chloride may be prescribed intravenously, antihistamines, and from physiotherapy - UHF to the larynx.

The doctor can also perform intralaryngeal infusions of oils (peach, olive with the addition of menthol or hydrocortisone).

Folk remedies

There are quite effective folk recipes for quickly restoring your voice:

  • A glass of warm milk with 1 teaspoon of honey and a small piece of butter.
  • An old and proven means of restoring the voice is eggnog: grind 1 yolk with 1.5 tsp. sugar, pour half a glass of warm milk, drink in small sips.
  • Lightly heat 50 g of cognac, add 3 teaspoons of honey and a few drops of lemon juice. Drink in small sips. This mixture will help restore your voice for several hours.
  • Squeeze juice from carrots, dilute with warm milk 1:3. Drink half a glass 3 times a day.
  • Cut one dry fig and scoop out the pulp with a spoon. Add milk to a glass and heat, stirring constantly. Do not bring to a boil. Cool slightly and drink in small sips.

With chronic laryngitis, the voice disappears periodically. During an exacerbation, you can use the same tips.

For chronic laryngitis, local treatment is more actively used: irrigation of the larynx with various medications using a special laryngeal syringe. Antibacterial drugs (dioxidin, streptomycin), suspensions of glucocorticoid hormones, vegetable oils for softening, astringents (zinc sulfate) are used.

In case of hyperplastic chronic laryngitis, when there are growths of the mucous membrane of the vocal folds, surgical treatment is possible - microendoscopic removal of hypertrophied areas and nodules. This operation can also be done using a laser or by cryodestruction.

Persons whose profession involves constant stress on the vocal cords (singers, actors, lecturers, etc.) require regular monitoring by a phoniatrist. This specialist specializes in the treatment and prevention of vocal cord problems. The phoniatrist not only prescribes medication, but also recommends special exercises to strengthen the vocal muscles.

Treatment for voice loss in a child

If your child’s voice has disappeared, you should not take any independent measures until examined by a doctor. The child needs to be calmed as much as possible, and there is no need to carry out any frightening procedures (foot baths, mustard plasters, steam inhalations, etc.). You can give warm drinks, ensure sufficient humidification and ventilation of the air in the room.

If the doctor has ruled out any serious complications and has allowed the child to be treated at home, you need to provide him with maximum comfort, distract him, and avoid prolonged screaming and crying.

Among the distracting procedures for a child, warm baths for the hands, rubbing the chest, back and legs with warming baby ointments are possible. You can give a baby heating pad filled with warm water or a special heating pad toy. Warm, frequent drinks continue. Older children can be given inhalations with saline using an ultrasonic (silent) nebulizer. Steam inhalations are difficult for children. It must be remembered that children under 5 years of age should not use peppermint oil (and all preparations with menthol), as it can cause spasm of the larynx.

Examinations for unexplained voice loss

Let's consider a situation where the symptoms of a cold have passed, but the voice does not recover. Either the voice disappears periodically, or the deterioration occurs gradually. Sometimes, with a long course of dysphonia, there may be some improvement in the sonority of the voice due to compensatory hypertrophy of the folds of the vestibule. The patient has an imaginary impression of cure.

There is no need to treat “protracted laryngitis” on your own. A thorough and immediate examination is necessary here to exclude other more serious diseases.

First of all, this is an examination by an ENT doctor. At the appointment, the doctor performs indirect laryngoscopy using a special laryngeal mirror. In this case, you can see the upper part of the larynx and vocal folds. The vocal folds are normally pearl-white in color and close tightly during phonation. During the examination, the doctor evaluates the symmetry, mobility of the vocal folds, the degree of closure, the condition of the mucous membrane, and the presence of pathological formations.

Laryngoscopy is a method of examining the larynx

If indirect laryngoscopy reveals paralysis of the vocal fold, suspicion of a tumor, or the need to take a biopsy from suspicious areas, direct laryngoscopy is prescribed. It is performed either with a rigid laryngoscope or with a more modern flexible fiber laryngoscope under local or general anesthesia. Fibrolaryngoscopy allows you to enlarge the image of the organ being examined many times, record it, and also take a tissue biopsy from suspicious areas.

X-rays of the larynx sometimes provide information about the presence of space-occupying formations in it.

Computed tomography of the larynx also gives an idea of ​​the structure of the larynx, the presence of tumors and the condition of regional lymph nodes.

In case of recurrent nerve syndrome of unknown etiology, chest x-ray, CT of the chest and mediastinum, ultrasound of the thyroid gland, and esophagogastroendoscopy are mandatory.

Source: http://uhonos.ru/gorlo/simptomy-gorla/propal-golos/

Why does the voice disappear: what to do and how to treat the disease?

Probably, many of us have encountered such a phenomenon as loss of voice, which in medicine is called aphonia. The causes of this condition can be both inflammatory diseases of the upper respiratory tract and neoplasms of the trachea or vocal cords. Therefore, people whose voice has disappeared cannot do without consulting a specialist.

In this topic we will explain in detail why the voice disappears, what to do and how to treat the diseases that led to this condition.

Why does my voice disappear?

If your voice is lost, the reasons for this may be the following:

  • inflammatory diseases of the throat and vocal cords caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Most often, aphonia is caused by laryngitis - an inflammation of the larynx, which also affects the vocal cords, as a result of which they swell and become inactive. Therefore, the process of sound formation is disrupted. But even with severe throat congestion, when the ligaments are not affected by the inflammatory process, partial or complete loss of voice is possible;
  • prolonged overstrain of the vocal cords. Most often, the voice disappears not in professional singers who give a concert, but in those whose vocal cords are not trained. For example, if you decide to sing loudly during a fun feast, then the risk of losing your voice is quite high;
  • severe stress, worry or fear. Severe psycho-emotional shock can cause a missing voice. Only in this case, aphonia will not arise due to damage to the ligaments. Due to nervousness, the voice can disappear either abruptly or gradually;
  • neoplasms of the larynx and vocal cords themselves. Tumors of a benign or malignant nature disrupt the contact of the vocal cords, as a result of which complete or partial aphonia develops;
  • neoplasms or hypertrophy of the thyroid gland. An enlarged thyroid gland will compress the larynx, and, accordingly, the vocal cords, as a result of which the voice may disappear;
  • unfavorable ecological situation of the area where the person lives. Air pollution from exhaust gases or smoke from industrial enterprises negatively affects the condition of the speech apparatus. Constant irritation of the vocal cords by harmful substances present in the inhaled air can cause hoarseness or complete loss of voice;
  • active and passive smoking. Tobacco smoke also constantly irritates the vocal cords, causing them to become rough. Similar processes in the human speech apparatus can result in loss of voice.

Lost voice due to cold: how to treat?

Most often, the voice disappears due to a cold, namely laryngitis.

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx, which can be bacterial, viral or fungal. With laryngitis, the voice may disappear partially or completely.

Patients with colds, including laryngitis, may experience the following symptoms of the disease:

  • sore throat, especially when swallowing;
  • hoarseness, hoarseness, or complete loss of voice;
  • dry cough;
  • redness of the throat;
  • increase in body temperature to fairly high numbers;
  • general weakness and others.

Patients who have lost their voice due to a cold, in addition to drug treatment, need to follow some rules, namely:

  • give your vocal cords a rest. To do this, you just need to remain silent for a few days;
  • If you have a fever, you should rest. But if the body temperature is within normal limits, then it will be enough to limit physical activity;
  • Drink plenty of warm liquid. Preference should be given to sweet tea, juice, compote or fruit drink, and it is better to exclude sour drinks. Warm milk with honey before bed will help restore your voice;
  • meals should be fractional, that is, in small portions 5-6 times a day. Dishes need to be steamed, stewed or boiled. It is strictly not recommended to eat hot, spicy or fried foods, as they will irritate an already sore throat;
  • carry out wet cleaning and ventilation twice a day in the room where the patient is;
  • Smoking during illness is strictly prohibited;
  • The throat should be wrapped in a woolen scarf.

Drug treatment

The following groups of drugs can be used in the treatment of colds and laryngitis:

  • expectorants: Ambroxol, Bromhexine, ivy syrup and others. With the help of these drugs, the cough will become moist, congestion and irritation of the throat will decrease;
  • lollipops with antiseptics: Decathylene, Strepsils, Septefril. The use of these drugs helps eliminate sore throat and sore throat;
  • antiseptic oral sprays: Kameton, Orosept, Hexoral. With the help of these drugs, the inflammatory process in the throat is reduced, pathogenic microorganisms are destroyed and swelling of the mucous membrane is stopped;
  • gargling solutions: Yox, Furacilin solution, Decasan;
  • antibiotics: Augmentin, Fromilid, Ceftriaxone. The listed medications are the drugs of choice in case of sore throat.

Lost voice: how to treat it at home?

Laryngitis and tonsillitis can be treated at home under the supervision of your doctor. But you need to understand that folk remedies and methods are not effective enough to cope with colds and aphonia on your own, and therefore can be used exclusively as additional therapy, if the attending physician allows it.

We bring to your attention the most popular and effective folk remedies for loss of voice.

  • Milk with Borjomi. If you have a sore throat, and then become hoarse or have lost your voice, you can use milk and Borjomi, which are combined in a 1:1 ratio. For a glass of the resulting solution you will also need one teaspoon of linden honey and butter. This medicine is taken twice a day.
  • Egg and butter. Grind two yolks with one teaspoon of sugar to form a white foam, and add one teaspoon of butter. Use the resulting mixture one teaspoon between meals.
  • Onions and white raisins. Dilute one tablespoon of onion juice with one glass of water, add two tablespoons of white raisins and put on fire. When the broth boils, reduce the heat and cook for another 20 minutes. The medicine is taken one tablespoon four times a day.
  • Milk and carrots. Peel one medium carrot and grate it on a fine grater. Pour two glasses of milk into a saucepan and add grated carrots, then bring to a boil and cook until the vegetable is ready. Strain the finished broth through a fine sieve and take warm throughout the day.
  • Cognac, lemon and honey. ¼ glass of high-quality cognac needs to be slightly warmed, then mixed with five drops of lemon juice and two teaspoons of honey. This medicine is drunk in small sips, as if savoring it, before going to bed.

Lost voice and sore throat: how to treat with inhalations?

Inhalations for loss of voice are highly effective in both adults and children. The most effective decoctions used for inhalation are chamomile, eucalyptus, St. John's wort, linden and thyme.

To prepare the decoction, you need to take three tablespoons of one of the listed plants, pour three glasses of boiling water and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. The finished decoction must be cooled to a temperature of 45 degrees Celsius and poured into the inhaler. If there is none, then you can simply breathe over the pan, covered with a towel. Inhalation is carried out for minutes twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.

Also, inhalation of herbal decoctions can be combined with inhalation of essential oils, for example, lavender, basil or cedar. To do this, three glasses of water need to be heated to 50 degrees Celsius and 5-6 drops of oil should be added to it. You can breathe directly over the pan or by pouring water into an inhaler.

Another simple recipe for inhalation is inhalation over potato steam. To do this, wash the potatoes thoroughly and boil them in their skins until tender, then remove from heat and add one tablespoon of baking soda. When the potatoes have cooled slightly, cover with a towel and breathe in the steam.

Inhalations quickly and effectively soften the mucous membrane of the throat, including the vocal cords, and eliminate pain and inflammation.

The child has lost his voice: what to treat?

If your child experiences hoarseness or loss of voice, but there are no other symptoms, you can try to cope with the problem yourself. After all, the voice could disappear or become hoarse from prolonged screaming or crying.

But if the loss of voice is accompanied by a severe cough, fever, shortness of breath or lethargy, then you need to urgently seek help from a specialist.

The child needs to be provided with the same rules that we talked about earlier, that is, rest, diet, plenty of warm drinks, etc.

As for drug treatment, drugs should be prescribed exclusively by a doctor.

Principles for treating colds, hoarseness and loss of voice:

  • gargling. If the child understands how to gargle, then for this you can use a solution of Furacilin, Chlorophyllipt, Miramistin;
  • local antiseptics. The child can be given to dissolve tablets that contain antiseptics, for example, Lisobakt, Decatylene, Septefril, Faringosept;
  • expectorants. For a dry cough, phlegm-thinning drugs such as Doctor Mom, Bronholitin, and Ambroxol are indicated. Mucolytics should not be given to children under two years of age, since they do not yet know how to cough up sputum;
  • antihistamines. Antiallergic drugs will help eliminate swelling of the laryngeal mucosa and restore the child's voice. The drugs of choice in this case may be Eden, L-cet, Suprastin;
  • antibiotics. Drugs in this group are used if a high temperature persists for three days or there are signs of bacterial inflammation. Children can be prescribed Flemoxin, Azithromycin, Ceftriaxone and other antibiotics approved in childhood. Antibiotic therapy must be covered with probiotics (Lactomum, Bifi forms, Lactovit, Prema and others);
  • vitamin therapy. Vitamins help strengthen the immune system and speed up the recovery of the vocal cords. Children can be given Pikovit, Kinder Biovital, Alphabet and other vitamins;
  • physiotherapeutic methods. The simplest method of physiotherapy that can be performed at home is inhalation, which we have also already talked about.

How to treat a throat during pregnancy?

Colds during pregnancy should also be treated only by a specialist, since self-medication can harm not only the woman, but also the fetus. First of all, the doctor will consider products made from natural ingredients or homeopathy as a treatment, since chemistry can be dangerous.

Treatment for a cold that has caused loss of voice in pregnant women may be as follows:

  • inhalation with essential oils of lavender, cedar or cedar;
  • inhalation of potato steam, decoction of pine cones or garlic;
  • gargling with a solution of Chlorophyllipt, Furacilin or Miramistin;
  • expectorants: licorice root, Doctor Mom, Sinupret and others;
  • For a bacterial upper respiratory tract infection, your doctor may consider using antibiotics.

Also, a woman must adhere to the rules described above, which are necessary to quickly restore her voice.

Lost voice: how to treat while breastfeeding?

Breast milk is an essential food for a baby, so experts do not recommend interrupting feeding, even if a woman has a cold. But before feeding, the woman should put on a disposable surgical mask and remove it when the baby has eaten.

The drugs of choice for a cold in a nursing mother may be interferon preparations (Nazoferon, Grippferon, Human Interferon, Viferon). You can relieve a sore throat with the help of drugs such as Lisobakt, Chlorophyllipt, Eucalyptus, Hexoral, Tantum-Verde.

Folk remedies and methods that we talked about earlier will also help cure your throat. But such medications should not contain highly allergenic substances and alcohol. In addition, any treatment should be used only after consultation with the treating doctor.

As a result, we can conclude that the voice disappears most often due to colds of the upper respiratory tract, and when treating this pathology, it is important not only to take medications, but also to provide rest to the vocal cords. Also, you should not prescribe any medications yourself, as they have contraindications and side effects that can harm your health.

I have been working as a general practitioner for more than 5 years and am happy to share with you my knowledge from the field of medicine.

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Why does my voice disappear? What are the reasons if your throat doesn’t hurt?

Patients often turn to doctors with a complaint that their voice has disappeared for no reason, but their throat does not hurt. Sometimes this happens after increased speech load, stress, or with slight malaise. In this case, there may be no temperature, and there are also no other symptoms of the disease. The person does not know whether to go to the doctor, not considering the temporary lack of voice as a serious problem. First, you can try well-known folk methods for eliminating hoarseness or hoarseness. However, if your voice does not recover within 2-3 days or the problem returns periodically, it is better to consult a doctor.

Some diseases go away without fever, so its absence does not always mean that a person is healthy. New growths may appear on the surface of the throat, which do not manifest themselves until a certain moment. Only a doctor can identify the disease in time and prescribe adequate treatment.

Why does the voice disappear?

Most often, voice problems occur in people whose activities involve stress on the vocal apparatus. Teachers, lecturers, announcers, tour guides, actors - they have to talk a lot and loudly. To prevent hoarseness and hoarseness, you need to control the strength of your voice, try not to overstrain it, and take breaks if possible. Otherwise, over time, polyps and nodules form on the ligaments, which lead to permanent hoarseness.

Each person can independently check the sound quality of their voice. To do this, you need to “sing” the sound “i” for 0.5 minutes. A healthy voice sounds without vibrations, hesitations, and should not be interrupted. If you hear shaking, it is better to consult an otolaryngologist. Laryngoscopy helps the doctor examine the ligaments and identify changes.

There are two groups of reasons why the voice may disappear:

  • mechanical - occur due to overstrain of the vocal apparatus,
  • infectious – occur as one of the symptoms of throat diseases (laryngitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis).

If the voice has disappeared after prolonged vocal stress, a person may experience a sore throat and a feeling of dryness. There is no fever, and there are no signs of intoxication (ache, weakness, lethargy). Treatment in this case is primarily aimed at relieving tension. The cords need to be allowed to rest, minimizing the vocal load. It is recommended to speak in a whisper or better remain silent.

It is more difficult to get rid of hoarseness caused by infection. The first step is to visit a doctor. Lack of treatment or incorrectly selected medications can lead to the development of complications. Untreated laryngitis leads to functional changes in the functioning of the ligaments and becomes a cause of professional incompetence. A complication after a sore throat is a disruption of the kidneys, heart, and blood vessels. Any infection spreads quite quickly throughout the body, negatively affecting its functioning.

Nervous system disorders often lead to voice problems. Moreover, more often (up to 90% of cases) this happens to women than to men. This is explained by their inherent increased emotionality, as well as the anatomical features of the ligaments. In women, the ligaments are narrower and thinner, so under heavy loads they have a more difficult time.

People often wonder: why don’t the procedures and medications prescribed by the doctor help me? The reason for this may be problems with the endocrine system. Identifying them is not so easy. Often, only an experienced doctor can find a connection between voice changes and other problems in the body. In this case, additional consultation with specialized specialists is required: an endocrinologist, a neurologist. If the cause is not established, the relief will be temporary, the problem will definitely return.

What to do if neoplasms appear on the ligaments?

Polyps are reddish-colored formations with clear boundaries. They can be located on a thin or thick base. The surface of the polyp can be smooth or lobed, the sizes are small and large. They are usually located in the middle part of the ligaments in groups or singly. The exact cause of their occurrence is unknown. But experts believe that one of the provoking factors is overstrain of the ligaments, which leads to their tearing with subsequent hemorrhage. Therefore, maintaining a vocal routine helps prevent the appearance of polyps. However, they can only be completely removed through surgery.

Another common cause of voice changes is nodules. They occur when the ligaments are constantly overstrained. Overload leads to tissue compaction. Subsequently, these places harden and begin to increase in size, while the color remains the same as that of the surrounding tissues. A feature of the nodules is their symmetrical location on the ligaments. This allows you to accurately diagnose them and does not require a biopsy.

During rest, the nodules shrink, soften, become more mobile, and their negative impact on the voice decreases. To relieve swelling, the doctor prescribes steroid and anti-inflammatory drugs. However, voice and drug therapy alone will not get rid of the nodules. If they interfere with normal speaking, then they resort to microsurgery methods. Nodules, like polyps, are removed by laser or cryotherapy.

How to get my voice back?

To restore a lost voice, otolaryngologists recommend maintaining “vocal rest.” It consists of reducing the volume of conversation and limiting communication. Even this simple method helps reduce swelling of the ligaments and restore the voice to its former sonority. General recommendations aimed at restoring your voice are as follows:

  • give the ligaments the opportunity to relax by arranging a “day of silence”,
  • exclude carbonated, hot, cold liquids,
  • increase the consumption of warm fortified drinks,
  • refuse food with the prefix “too”: sweet, spicy, sour,
  • bunches “don’t like” crumbly foods – cookies, nuts, chips, crackers,
  • Smoking and alcohol need to be firmly said “no”.

In addition, you should protect yourself from hypothermia and avoid air conditioning. If your voice has disappeared as a result of stress, then you need to try to regain a calm state, you can take a sedative.

What remedies should I take to improve my voice?

The choice of drugs and procedures depends on the cause of the problem. To determine what disease and how to treat it, you must first consult with a specialist. If your throat hurts, then antiseptics will come to the rescue. These can be lozenges, rinsing solutions, sprays. Rinsing with a solution of salt and furatsilin helps to quickly relieve pain. The brine solution is prepared at the rate of a spoonful of salt per glass of boiling water. Allow it to cool until warm and rinse your mouth. To prepare a solution of furatsilin, you need to crush one tablet, pour it well with warm water, and mix. After rinsing, it is advisable not to drink or eat for a minute.

Inhalations help soften the mucous membrane and relieve inflammation. They are made over decoctions of herbs (sage, chamomile), with essential oils (mint, eucalyptus). If there is no special device, then boiling water is poured into a teapot and the steam is inhaled through the spout through the mouth and exhaled through the nose. To avoid getting burned, you can put a paper funnel on the spout. Additionally, the doctor may prescribe physical therapy.

Taking medications begins after it has been established whether the disease is caused by viruses or bacteria. Antiviral drugs or antibiotics should be prescribed by a doctor. You should complete the course of drug therapy, otherwise the disease may take a chronic form and cause complications.

If the disease is accompanied by a cough, then antitussive or expectorant drugs are prescribed. For example, a feature of laryngitis is a “barking” cough. It is dry, unproductive, and the sputum does not come out at first. Coughing irritates the mucous membrane and causes swelling. Therefore, in the first days of illness, the doctor prescribes medications that suppress the cough reflex. After 3-4 days of treatment, the sick person feels relief and the sputum begins to disappear. Expectorants help improve this process.

Traditional medicine

The effectiveness of any folk recipe largely depends on the correctness of its implementation and the characteristics of a particular organism. Therefore, the main criterion to focus on during treatment is the comfort of sensations. If a burning sensation appears, lacrimation increases, and swelling occurs, the procedure should be stopped. You should first consult with your doctor about any new drug or method.

To prevent yourself from getting sick, at the first signs of a cold - soreness, burning, hoarseness - you can prepare a simple remedy from aloe. Grind a piece of aloe leaf (1-1.5 cm long), add honey to it. The components are taken in equal parts. A teaspoon of the resulting mixture should be kept in your mouth until completely dissolved. The throat is wrapped in a warm scarf. Another aloe recipe. You will need 2-3 old sheets. They are peeled, ground, and the same volume of water is added. Gargle with this mixture 3-4 times a day.

Milk will help restore the sonority of your voice. 100 ml of heated milk and mineral water (for example, Borjomi) are poured into a glass, a spoonful of honey and butter is added to them. The resulting mixture is slowly drunk. If there is no mineral water, then you can add a pinch of soda to the milk.

Many people love the classic “mogol-mogol”, but not everyone knows that this remedy is a great help for a dry voice. It’s easy to prepare: grind 2 yolks with a spoonful of sugar, then gently add softened butter into the resulting foam. This “medicine” is taken by spoon shortly before meals.

A decoction of onions with white grape raisins helps to quickly restore your voice. It is prepared like this:

  • pour 2 tablespoons of washed raisins into the pan,
  • pour 200 ml of water,
  • bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes,
  • leave to cool for 20 minutes,
  • pour a tablespoon of onion juice into the prepared broth,
  • The finished product is taken during the day and before bedtime.

Carrot milk will help “feed” the body with vitamins and heal the throat. It looks very aesthetically pleasing, creating an additional healing effect with its bright appearance. First, peel one large carrot. Then it is boiled until tender in 0.5 liters of water and filtered. The finished broth can be drunk or gargled with it.

For adults, a recipe with cognac is suitable. Lightly heat 50 grams of the drink, add 4-5 drops of lemon juice and 2 teaspoons of heated honey. You need to drink the mixture a little bit, no more than once a day.

Source: http://gorlonos.ru/throat/simptomy/pochemu-propadaet-golos.html