Hoarseness is an abnormal change in the voice that may sound breathy, raspy, or strained. This condition occurs when there is a disorder with the sound producing parts of the larynx (voice box). Common causes of hoarseness are Acute Laryngitis, Vocal Nodules, Gastroesophageal Reflux and damage caused by Smoking. Less common causes include thyroid problems, neurological disorders, trauma to the voice box, and cancers of the voice box and gullet.
Serious injury to the voice box can result from excessive use of voice, straining voice, varying pitch when speaking, as well as vocal cord lesions, vocal hemorrhage, gastroesophageal reflux, smoking, neurological disorders – among other causes.
The treatment for hoarseness at ENT of NJ is typically a combination of state-of-the-art microsurgery and a carefully devised voice therapy program.