Hoarseness
Overview
Hoarseness is a generic term for difficulty speaking, frequently due to throat irritation. Hoarseness will result in the voice sounding breathy, scratching, raspy, or faint.
Specialty care
Treatment options
Rest is the most common treatment. If the irritation to the throat is the result of infection, antibiotics may be prescribed. In rare cases, surgery may be needed to remove polyps or other benign growths affecting the vocal cords.
