Hoarse Voice in Kids: Normal or Not?
Hoarse Voice in Children: What Ontario Parents Need to Know
When your child sounds like they've been cheering at a hockey game all day, it's natural to wonder if something's wrong. The good news? Most hoarse voices in kids are completely normal and clear up on their own within a few days.
What's going on?
A hoarse voice happens when your child's vocal cords become swollen or irritated. Think of vocal cords like guitar strings that vibrate to make sound. When they're puffy or rough, the sound comes out scratchy instead of clear.
This is incredibly common in children because they use their voices differently than adults. Kids yell, sing loudly, and talk excitedly without thinking about protecting their vocal cords. Plus, their vocal cords are smaller and more delicate than ours.
Most of the time, hoarseness comes from everyday things like cheering too loud, having a cold, or even crying hard. Sometimes it's from talking too much during an exciting playdate or singing along to Frozen for the hundredth time.
What you might notice
- Voice sounds raspy, scratchy, or rough
- Speaking seems to take more effort
- Voice cracks or breaks while talking
- Quieter voice than usual
- Complaints that talking hurts their throat
- Dry cough along with the voice change
What helps at home
The best medicine for a hoarse voice is rest, just like resting a sore muscle. Encourage your child to use their "quiet voice" and avoid whispering, which actually strains the vocal cords more than normal talking.
Keep them hydrated with water, warm broth, or herbal tea with honey if they're over one year old. A cool mist humidifier in their room can help soothe irritated vocal cords, especially overnight.
Avoid giving cough drops to young children, as they can be a choking hazard. Instead, try a spoonful of honey for kids over 12 months.
When to worry
Head to the emergency room if your child has trouble breathing, is drooling excessively, has a high fever with difficulty swallowing, or seems unable to make any sounds at all.
Call your doctor or text Arlo if the hoarseness lasts more than two weeks, comes with a fever that won't break, or if your child seems to have ongoing pain when swallowing. Also reach out if this keeps happening without an obvious cause like a cold or lots of shouting.
The takeaway
A hoarse voice is usually just a sign that those little vocal cords need some TLC. With rest and fluids, your child should be back to their chatty self soon.
You can always text Arlo and talk to a provider in 5 minutes!
References - [Voice Problems in Children](https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/health-conditions-and-treatments/voiceproblemsin_children)
- [Hoarseness in Children](https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=748&language=English)
- [Laryngitis in Children - Ontario Health](https://www.ontario.ca/page/laryngitis-children)