Table of contents:
- Various causes of lost sound
- 1. Colds
- 2. Excessive use of voice
- 3. Smoking
- 4. GERD disease
- 5. Laryngitis
Have you ever opened your mouth to make a sound, there were only whispers and moving lips? You may be confused about what is causing your voice to suddenly disappear. In order to get the right treatment, first identify what was behind the loss of your voice.
Various causes of lost sound
Sounds that suddenly disappear or can only let out a low whisper are fairly common conditions. This condition is caused by disturbances in the vibration of your vocal cords, such as inflammation and swelling.
This causes one or both of your vocal cords to weaken to the point that they are completely unusable, which can result in your voice being lost. In fact, many can trigger this condition, including:
1. Colds
As quoted from Cleveland Clinic, colds are one of the most common reasons why your voice can be lost.
When speaking, the air that enters through the voice box in the throat will touch the vocal cords so they vibrate and cause a sound. If you have a cold, your vocal cords will sometimes become inflamed.
This condition makes your vocal cords swell and affects the vibration of the two bands. As a result, your voice is hoarse and doesn't even exist at all.
2. Excessive use of voice
Using your voice to the limit can also be the cause of your voice loss. If you overuse your vocal cords, such as yelling to support your favorite team in a match, the two vocal cords end up getting tired and injured.
So, try to avoid the things below in order to maintain the health of your vocal cords.
- Talking, singing, or coughing too often and too loudly
- Continuously talking after singing or shouting
3. Smoking
Smoking is a habit that is bad for the body, including the health of your vocal cords for a long time.
If you are a smoker, be careful because the smoke you inhale will enter your throat and can irritate your vocal cords. Also, your vocal cords are at risk of developing small, non-cancerous lumps, namely polyps.
It is the polyps that grow on your vocal cords that can be one of the reasons your voice gradually disappears.
4. GERD disease
GERD is a condition when your stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. Apart from causing a burning sensation in your chest, GERD can also mute your voice when you are talking.
This condition is caused by stomach acid that rises into the esophagus which can actually irritate your larynx (larynx). If your larynx becomes irritated, your vocal cords will become swollen, resulting in hoarseness that goes away.
5. Laryngitis
Laryngitis is a condition when your vocal cords become inflamed. In addition to chemicals that can irritate the throat and vocal cords, laryngitis can also occur when there is an infection, such as a yeast infection of your vocal cords.
This can happen if you use inhalers (corticosteroids) to treat asthma or if you have a problem with your immune system. As a result, it is difficult for your body to fight off a yeast infection that causes your vocal cords to become damaged and swell.
The cause of lost voice generally depends on your life habits. Starting from smoking, consuming foods that make stomach acid rise, to using excessive voices.
To keep it nice, try not to yell excessively. If you have done this and your voice does not return for 2 weeks, immediately consult your doctor.
