Hoarseness in children is a common concern and usually presents as a raspy, breathy or weak voice. While it’s often temporary and caused by a cold or overuse of the voice, persistent hoarseness lasting more than a few weeks may signal an underlying issue. One of the most common causes is vocal strain from frequent yelling, screaming or frequent tantrums. This can lead to the development of vocal cord nodules which are small, benign growths on the vocal cords that interfere with normal vibration and sound production.

In addition to vocal overuse, other causes of hoarseness include infections, acid reflux, allergies, and more rarely nerve injuries affecting the vocal cords. Nerve-related hoarseness can occur after surgeries, trauma, or may be related to congenital conditions. When the nerve that controls one or both vocal cords is weakened or paralyzed, a child may have a breathy or weak cry, difficulty feeding, or trouble being heard clearly. In these cases, hoarseness is often accompanied by other symptoms such as coughing, choking or noisy breathing.

If hoarseness lasts more than 2-4 weeks or is affecting your child’s ability to speak, eat or be understood referral to our team at ENT for Kids may be helpful. Our physician use a small camera (flexible laryngoscope) to look at the vocal cords and check for nodules, swelling, movement issues or other abnormalities. Depending on the cause, treatment may include voice therapy with a speech and language pathologist, changes in voice use habits, reflux management or surgery.

Most children with hoarseness improve with proper care and time, especially when they receive support with good hydration, rest and use their voices more gently. 

If you’re concerned about your child’s voice, please reach out to us to arrange a consultation.

Content created with assistance from Open AI, ChatGPT