0951 – The ‘Hoarse, Husky or Croaky’ Voice

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2023.08.09 – 0951 – The ‘Hoarse, Husky or Croaky’ Voice

Hoarse, husky or croaky voice

Symptom: A raw, scratchy voice (not necessarily low in pitch) which may signify overuse (such as shouting or talking loudly), abuse (such as drinking and smoking) or both (a late-night party for example).

Prescription:

· If there’s an obvious one-off cause (such as singing at a concert, or shouting at a sports event), rest the voice and avoid such situations in the future (episode 756, might be worth a listen on your ‘vocal battery’).

· If you know the regular, work-related cause (say, commentating at a sports event, and talking loud over a crowd), then have a good voice-care regime: hydration, warm-up and warm-down techniques, vocal rest, good breath support and so on. (Episode 920 is a good one for more on this.)

· Croakiness may be the result of too much thick phlegm in your mouth and throat. Remember to “hydrate, mate”, and consider whether reducing your intake of things like dairy and chocolate make a difference (as some say it does for them). I have lots of episodes on this: try 753 on why hydration oughta be water and 751 on ‘mucus’!

· Smoking and shouting should always be avoided or reduced as much as possible (episode 766). Learn the best ways to scream and shout in episodes 352 and 353.

· As a basic cause, a hoarse voice may be down to nervous tension, so practice relaxation and better breathing skills and check your posture.

· At its worst, and for ongoing problems (a recurring sore throat), hoarseness may be a signifier of a more serious condition perhaps from scarring because of ongoing misuse, so seek professional medial advice.

More in episodes 761, 767.

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