How to Get Your Voice Back Quickly

You may need to figure out how to get your voice during a respiratory illness or when you have lost it due to misuse, or overuse (from yelling, singing, or talking too much). Allergies, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), asthma, and smoking can also cause you to lose your voice.

The good news is that laryngitis (inflammation of your larynx or voice box) is usually temporary, and there are some techniques you can try to heal your voice.

1. Rest Your Voice

Voice rest is the main treatment for laryngitis. Resting your voice completely can reduce discomfort and swelling within 24 to 48 hours.

To maximize the benefits of voice rest, avoid using your voice entirely, including whispering. Whispering might seem harmless, but it actually strains your voice more.

Try to rest your voice for a day or two to see if your symptoms improve. If they don’t, continue resting your voice for up to a week. Resting beyond that isn’t practical or advised.

2. Breathe In Steam

Moist air can help with laryngitis. Use a humidifier or sit in a steamy bathroom to inhale the humid air.

If you have vocal fatigue, you might be more affected by dehydration. A humidifier can help restore lost moisture in the air and your throat.

To use steam to get your voice back, try the following:

• Run a humidifier in your bedroom while you sleep.
• Run a hot shower, sit in the bathroom, and breathe in the steam for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Lean over a bowl of steaming water and breathe in the moist air (be careful not to burn yourself on the steam).

Humidifiers are labeled as either “cool mist” or “warm mist” (also called steam vaporizers). Both must be kept clean to avoid the buildup of bacteria and mold in the machine and the air. Cool mist humidifiers are safer, especially if you have children in the home, because they do not pose a risk of steam burns.

3. Hydrate and Gargle

Drink Hot and Cold Liquids: Drinking plenty of water can also help you get your voice back quickly. Drinking enough liquids not only moisturizes your throat, but also keeps your entire body functioning, which helps its ability to heal. Aim for at least 8 cups a day.

Drinking hot liquids like tea, broth, or warm lemon water with honey adds moisture to your throat and may help reduce inflammation. Warm drinks also offer a soothing effect that can temporarily relieve pain.

Avoid drinks that can dehydrate you, such as caffeine and alcohol. Instead, opt for water, juices, broths, and smoothies.

Gargle With Saltwater: Gargling warm salt water can help keep the vocal cords moist and relieve inflammation.

Making a saltwater rinse is easy: Put 1 teaspoon of salt into an 8-ounce glass of warm water. If you find 1 teaspoon of salt too strong, cut back to 1/2 teaspoon. Gargle for five to 10 seconds and spit, up to three times per day. Make a fresh solution for each use.

4. Use OTC Pain Relievers and Lozenges

NSAIDs: An over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever can help to reduce inflammation as well as ease pain. There are several nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) sold over the counter under different brand names and generics:

Lozenges and Hard Candy: Sucking on lozenges, including cough drops and hard candies, helps you produce saliva to keep your throat moist. Take sips of water as the throat lozenge dissolves in your mouth. Gum is also suitable for this purpose.

5. Don’t Smoke

Smoking is linked to inflammation, irritation, burning, and pain in the throat. Because smoke is an irritant, you should avoid smoking, vaping, or smoky environments.

If you want to try quitting, nicotine patches, lozenges, and gums can be effective aids.

6. Avoid Spicy Foods

Some people can be sensitive to spicy foods, especially those containing the chemical capsaicin that gives foods a hot flavor. Capsaicin can inflame your vocal cords, cause acid reflux, and irritate your esophagus.

Capsaicin is found in chili peppers, so try to avoid products that contain them like salsa, hot sauces (e.g., tabasco, sriracha), and paprika while trying to heal laryngitis.

7. Get Adequate Rest

Rest, and sleep in particular, reduces inflammation in your body. In addition, physical fatigue can have a negative effect on your voice.

If you are having trouble sleeping, try to improve your sleep hygiene.

Tips for Performers 

Singers, teachers, lawyers, and public speakers are at greater risk of losing their voices because of the high demand on their vocal cords.

Here are a few tips for those who rely on their voice for work or performing:

• Don’t overuse your voice: Avoid speaking or singing when your voice is hoarse or tired.
• Rest your voice when sick: Illness increases the strain on your voice.
• Avoid medications that are drying: These include allergy and cold medicines.
• Avoid extremes like screaming or whispering: Both stress your voice.
• Apply breathing techniques: Deep breaths from the chest support your voice. Vocal coaches teach exercises to improve breath control. Talking from the throat, without supporting breath, puts strain on your voice.
• Wash hands frequently to avoid illness.
• Avoid mouthwash that contains alcohol.
• Don’t cradle the phone between your head and shoulder: Doing this for extended periods can result in muscle tension in the neck.
• Use a microphone when necessary.
• Try vocal therapy: A speech-language pathologist experienced in treating voice problems can teach you healthy ways to use your voice.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Most of the time, laryngitis clears up within a few days to a week. But that’s just an average. Some people may find that their lost voice lasts for just a day or so, while others may be without a full voice for a couple of weeks.

In general, it’s wise to consult a healthcare provider if you continue to have laryngitis symptoms for more than two weeks.

Seek immediate medical attention if you:

• Have trouble breathing
• Cough up blood
• Have a persistent fever