Understanding Common Voice Disorders: When should I seek help?

Your voice is a powerful tool—it helps you communicate, express emotions, and connect with others. It allows you to work, sing and socialise. But what happens when your voice doesn’t sound or feel like it normally does?

Voice problems are more common than you might think, and changes in your voice that last longer than three weeks could be a sign that something isn’t quite right.

Recognising Voice Problems

Many people experience hoarseness, vocal fatigue, or voice variability at some point. These issues can come and go, but if they persist, they may indicate an underlying problem that needs attention. Common voice symptoms to look out for include:

Hoarseness or roughness in the voice
Vocal fatigue (your voice tires easily when speaking)
Voice cutting out when trying to change pitch
Variability in how voice sounds
A strained or effortful voice

If you experience any of these symptoms for more than three weeks, it’s important to seek medical advice. See your GP, they should refer you to an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist, who can assess your vocal cords and determine if voice therapy is needed.

Common Causes of Voice Disorders

There are many reasons why someone might develop a voice disorder. Some of the most common causes include:

Vocal strain or overuse – Speaking too much, too loudly, or incorrectly can fatigue the vocal cords.
Acid reflux (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux - LPR) – Stomach acid can irritate the vocal cords, leading to hoarseness (read more here).
Viral infections or colds – Infections can cause temporary swelling and irritation of the vocal cords.
Nodules, polyps, or cysts – Growths on the vocal cords can impact voice quality.
Neurological conditions – Conditions like Parkinson’s disease can affect the voice.
Nerve damage - Sometimes post surgery, leading to a Vocal cord paralysis which can affect the voice (read more here).
Poor vocal hygiene – Smoking, dehydration, and excessive throat clearing can harm the voice.
Ageing - as we age our voice can experience natural changes but therapy can help to keep your voice in shape.

How Speech Therapy Can Help

If an ENT recommends voice therapy, a specialist speech therapist can work with you to improve voice quality, reduce strain, and restore vocal function. Therapy may include:

Lifestyle modifications to protect vocal health
Breathing strategies to support the voice
Exercises to strengthen / improve efficiency of the vocal cord movements
Techniques to reduce strain and effort when speaking
At VC Speech Therapy, we specialise in voice disorders and provide tailored therapy to help you regain confidence in your voice.