Causes Of Aphonia And Its Treatment

The aphonia is the loss of voice and can be total, partial or be an alteration of the voice that usually ends in one of the two previous types. Hoarseness occurs immediately or progressively, depending on its causes.

When aphonia is due to minor causes, such as a cold or irritation,  it usually does not last more than a week. However, if the cause is due to vocal cord injuries, the aphonia may be chronic or persistent.

Main causes of aphonia

Hoarseness can also have other causes. For example, the most common are excessive use of the voice and yelling. A Medline Plus publication on voice disorders also states that clearing the throat, smoking, and even gastric reflux are capable of causing hoarseness.

In addition, the American Academy of Allergies, Asthma and Immunology details that virus or bacterial infections also cause vocal cord dysfunction. Also, being exposed to certain environmental conditions, such as air conditioning, is another of the most common causes of voice loss.

How to treat aphonia

To regain your voice, you must reduce the irritation and inflammation of the vocal cords. To do this, you can follow these recommendations:

Vocal rest

It is advisable to reduce the use of your voice for a couple of days, if possible. Also, according to Mayo Clinic professionals, you should treat any allergies that are affecting your breathing and clear your throat appropriately — a speaking professional will help you in this regard.

Hydration

As research published by the journal Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery explains , it is important to keep the vocal cords hydrated. In this way, you reduce the sensation of dryness in the throat.

On the other hand, keep in mind that in winter, with heating, the vocal cords also dry out. That is why it is convenient to keep the ambient humidity between 40% and 60%.

Natural medicine

Hoarseness doesn’t hurt, but it does bother. Some of the natural remedies that are popularly recommended for its treatment are those that we will list below.

1. Water and lemon

According to popular beliefs, gargling hot water with lemon juice is a very good remedy to treat aphonia. This could be due to the antiseptic properties of lemon vitamin C, which would be able to fight bacterial infection. However, there is no evidence to prove its effectiveness in these cases.

2. Milk with honey

Having a glass of milk with 2 tablespoons of honey could help soothe your throat and regain your voice. According to a study published by the journal Pediatrics , honey has the effect of helping reduce upper respiratory tract symptoms, such as hoarseness and cough.

3. Ginger with lemon or honey

Ginger root is said to have beneficial properties for the voice and to help clear mucus. In fact, there is scientific evidence confirming that it could be helpful in fighting bacterial infections. Therefore, combining the properties of ginger with lemon or honey will probably help you regain your voice.

4. Propolis

Propolis is a popularly recommended natural antibiotic to alleviate any throat condition. Although they are not conclusive in this regard, there are studies that assure that propolis could have antimicrobial activity against some bacteria and viruses that, as we saw previously, may be responsible for this condition.

This, together with its potential anti-inflammatory, healing and immunostimulating properties, makes propolis a possibly useful substance for improving and preventing throat and respiratory problems in general that lead to aphonia.

5. Infusion of sage

Sage is a plant that contains a large amount of mucilage, a soluble fiber that is said to be able to soften the throat. In addition, it would also act as a repair of the mucous membranes, thus helping to calm discomfort and irritation. It should be noted that there are no studies that show the effectiveness of this infusion, but that its possible benefits come from popular culture.

6. Licorice

For its part, licorice is considered another of the natural remedies for aphonia. It is a plant that has anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties ; the former were confirmed by a study published by the journal Antioxidants .

Thus, it is suggested that licorice helps open the airways and make hoarseness begin to heal. It can be consumed as an infusion several times a day.

Pharmacotherapy

When there is hoarseness and discomfort in the throat, an anti-inflammatory such as 400-milligram ibuprofen can be used . You can also use lozenges to suck with antiseptic and, sometimes, anesthetic effect.

In addition, these types of products stimulate the production of saliva and reduce irritation.  Antibiotics should never be taken to treat aphonia, unless prescribed by a doctor because of a bacterial infection in the throat. Of course, medications should not be consumed without the indication of a doctor.

How to prevent aphonia

It is true that it is not possible to control all the causes of aphonia described above; for example, it is not possible to avoid being infected by a virus or bacteria or being affected by changes in the environment.

However, there is the option of following some recommendations to prevent aphonia, such as the following :

• Do not shout regularly, control the volume of your voice, avoid talking for a long time in noisy environments.

• Avoid spicy foods and alcohol consumption, as these can irritate the throat and cause voice problems.
• Treat allergies, colds, and digestive problems when they occur.
• No Smoking.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Warm up your voice and do relaxation exercises before speaking in public or singing.
• Exercising regularly – Exercise increases muscle tone. This helps to maintain good posture and makes breathing more efficient, resulting in a better prepared system for the emission of the voice.

Take care of the causes of aphonia and consult with the doctor

As we have said, normally aphonia does not usually last more than a week. If the symptoms persist for a longer time, it is advisable to consult a specialist to avoid chronicity.

Keep in mind that there are other health complications, such as gastric reflux, for example, that can cause aphonia and other very annoying symptoms. To prevent or treat them as soon as possible, follow the instructions of your trusted doctor.