The most common cause of a cracked or hoarse voice is overusing your vocal cords, but it can also be related to conditions like acid reflux, laryngitis, and allergies. The key to curing a cracked voice is to identify and address the underlying cause.
If overuse of the vocal cords is the cause, then the best way to cure it is to rest your voice—no talking, no singing, no straining the vocal cords. Take it easy and give your voice a chance to rest and recover.
If the cause is a medical condition like laryngitis, acid reflux, or allergies, then see a doctor as soon as possible. Depending on the diagnosis and cause, they may prescribe medications to help you manage the symptoms.
In addition to addressing the underlying cause, incorporating habits like drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding throat irritants can help your voice heal faster. Many singers and voice actors also find that vocal exercises, including 20-30 minutes of yoga breathing, help strengthen their strained vocal cords.
Overall, take care to pay attention to your vocal cord health and give yourself time to heal. Curing a cracked voice can take time and effort, but with the right care and attention, you can get your voice back to its full potential.
Do voice cracks go away?
Yes, voice cracks generally go away with time. The vocal cords, which are responsible for producing pitch, lengthen as you reach puberty and settle into an adult range. This process can take up to a year or two and during this time, you may experience some pitch changes or “cracks”.
With practice, a healthy diet, and taking breaks from singing and speaking, you can help your voice develop more quickly and the cracks should clear up. If the cracks don’t dissipate after a few months, it might be a sign of a deeper issue and it is best to consult with a vocal coach or speech-language pathologist.
Why does my voice crack so much?
Your voice can crack for a few reasons, but the most common is due to adolescent growth. As your body begins to mature and develop, your vocal folds become bigger and thicker, and can become tense. As a result, your voice can suddenly change and sound different, causing it to crack.
The problem usually resolves itself after a few years as your body and vocal cords mature.
Other causes of a cracking voice can include allergies, infections, sore throat, smoking, dehydration, or an underlying medical condition. It’s a good idea to see a doctor if your voice has been cracking for a long time and/or it’s getting worse.
With the right treatment, you can reduce the number of cracks.
Can you stop voice cracks?
Yes, it is possible to stop or reduce voice cracks caused from the strain and fatigue of your voice. This can be improved by drinking plenty of water and ensuring you have good vocal health. Speaking correctly with correct breath control and deep breathing from your diaphragm can help to reduce the strain and fatigue that causes your voice to crack.
Regular vocal warmups and stretches can help to relax the muscles used for vocal production and help you avoid vocal fatigue. It is also important to not overuse your voice and take regular breaks throughout the day in order to give your voice time to rest.
Finally, if you are still having problems with voice cracking, a trained voice coach or vocal therapist can provide more targeted advice on how to improve your vocal health.
Does your voice change after 18?
For the most part, a person’s voice will begin to change between the ages of 11 and 14, as they approach adolescence and puberty. During this time, the vocal cords will begin to thicken and the larynx will become larger.
As a result, the vocal notes and tones produced by the throat and mouth will develop in a similar way to those of an adult. Therefore, by the time the individual reaches 18, their voice should have settled into its adult form.
However, even after reaching 18, there can still be slight changes to the voice. People tend to experience subtle changes in their voice from year to year, even into adulthood. Factors such as stress, illness, and even hormones can also contribute to slight vocal variations.
Also, practicing proper vocal technique and vocal exercise can help to improve the control and overall sound of the voice.
How long should voice cracks last?
Voice cracks typically last anywhere from a few seconds up to a few minutes, depending on the person and their age. For younger people, voice cracks can be more frequent and intense, as their voice box and vocal cords are still developing.
As a person gets older and their vocal cords mature, their voice cracks should become less frequent and less intense. If a person finds they are having frequent and/or severe voice cracks, it’s important to consult with a doctor or voice therapist, as it can be a sign of an underlying issue.
Can voice cracks damage your voice?
Voice cracks can cause stress on your vocal cords, which can lead to vocal fatigue. Over time, if your vocal cords endure too much stress, it can lead to inflammation which can damage your vocal cords, leading to a decrease in quality of your vocal range and reduce the expressiveness of your voice.
It is also important to take care of your voice in other ways such as not speaking too quickly, avoiding caffeine, drinking plenty of water and resting your voice in between performances. Regular vocal warm-ups and practice can also help reduce the risk of vocal fatigue and maintain the strength of your vocal cords.
Do all guys get voice cracks?
No, not all guys get voice cracks. The age at which they typically occur can vary from person to person, but typically teenage boys experience voice cracking as they are going through puberty. This is because the larynx and vocal cords are changing during this time due to the increase in hormones, so there can be a period where the vocal cords are not entirely mature.
During this stage, the vocal cords will close awkwardly, leading to a disruption in the person’s voice, often referred to as a “crack”. Not all guys will experience voice cracks though; genetics, diet, and lifestyle can all play a role in the development of the vocal cords and ultimately affect whether or not voice cracking occurs.
How long until my voice comes back?
The amount of time it takes for your voice to come back depends on the cause of your voice loss and the treatments you receive. In some cases, voice loss may be temporary and you may recover your voice after only a few days of resting your voice and doing voice therapy.
In cases of vocal abuse or trauma, such as straining or overusing your voice, the recovery period may take several weeks and may require a more intensive course of treatment. If your voice loss is due to an underlying medical condition such as acid reflux or sinus infections, the treatment and recovery times can also be longer.
It is important to get an accurate diagnosis from a medical professional in order to determine the appropriate treatment for you. With the right approach and treatments, you can usually recover your voice even if it may take a few weeks.
Do voice cracks mean my voice is still getting deeper?
Voice cracks are a normal part of going through puberty and voice changes. While voice cracks are an indication that your voice is still changing, they do not necessarily mean that your voice is still getting deeper.
Voice cracks occur when the folds of the larynx adjust to changes in both physical size as well as emotional states. When the vocal cords tense or relax, they can cause a vibration that creates a crack in the voice.
This can happen periodically as your body continues to change and your vocal cords transition from a higher to a lower pitch. The good news is that voice cracks usually lessen or stop altogether in time.
As the tiny muscles in your larynx strengthen and adjust to your body’s changes, you should notice that your voice will become more stable and reliable.
Does voice cracks mean puberty?
No, voice cracks does not necessarily mean that someone is going through puberty. While it is common for boys that are entering puberty to experience voice cracking, it does not necessarily mean that someone is going through puberty.
Voice cracking can be caused by multiple factors including hormones, body mass, health issues and more. During puberty boys’ voices will often deepen and crack as the vocal cords naturally become thicker and longer due to hormonal changes in the body.
However, voice cracking can also be temporary. For example, dehydration or shouting can cause the vocal cords to become tight and therefore cause the person’s voice to crack. Voice cracking can also be caused by too much stress or anxiety, colds and allergies, or just simply because the voice is changing due to natural maturing or growth.
Therefore, voice cracking does not always mean someone is going through puberty.
Is it possible to repair damaged vocal cords?
Yes, it is possible to repair damaged vocal cords. Depending on the severity of the damage, some vocal cord injuries may repair themselves as the vocal chords naturally heal over time. However, in many cases, damaged vocal cords will require medical intervention to repair them.
Treatment plans may vary, but typically involve voice therapy and exercises to strengthen and return flexibility to the vocal chords. In more severe cases of vocal cord injuries, surgery may be necessary to remove damaged tissue and repair the cords.
Although it can take several weeks to fully recover from a vocal cord injury, with patience and dedication, voice repair is possible.
Can your voice be permanently damaged?
Yes, it is possible for your voice to become permanently damaged. Voice can be damaged due to many factors, such as overuse, misuse, illness, or chemical/physical trauma. Generally, voice damage falls into two categories: vocal fold paralysis, which makes it difficult to produce sound, and vocal fold paresis, which makes it difficult to keep the vocal folds vibrating for sound.
Vocal fold paralysis can be caused by physical trauma to the laryngeal area, such as from a tumor, or from nerve damage. Paralysis of the vocal fold can also be caused by some medical treatments such as radiation therapy to the neck or throat.
Vocal fold paresis can be caused by too much pressure on the vocal folds, such as from shouting, coughing, spasmodic dysphonia (a neurological disorder), or certain medical treatments. Smoking and alcohol abuse can contribute to the weakening of the vocal folds.
Other causes of vocal damage include allergies, asthma, infections, and acid reflux. It is important to take steps to protect your voice and see a doctor if any symptoms of voice damage occur. If voice damage is not treated it can become permanent and can make speaking, singing, and other vocal activities very difficult.
How long does it take for a damaged voice to heal?
The amount of time it takes for a damaged voice to heal depends on the severity of the damage and the specific health of the individual. For minor damage, such as hoarseness or a sore throat, most people improve within a few days.
More severe damage, such as vocal nodules or inflammation from overuse, may require weeks or even months of rest and vocal therapy before a person’s voice returns to normal. Additionally, some individuals may suffer from a chronic vocal condition that requires ongoing treatment for full healing.
Ultimately, the duration of voice healing will vary based on each individual’s unique vocal health.
What does a damaged voice feel like?
Damaging your voice can be a frightening experience, to say the least. Depending on the severity of the damage, you may experience a variety of symptoms that range from mild discomfort to extreme pain.
The most common symptom is hoarseness, which refers to a change in the sound of your voice caused by inflammation or strain. You may also experience scratchiness and throat pain, as well as changes in your vocal range and pitch.
You may find that you cannot speak as loud as you once did, or that your voice sounds weak or raspy. You may also have difficulty singing or speaking for extended periods of time, and your throat may feel dry and tight.
If you have damaged your voice, it is important to take a break from speaking or singing and seek help from a medical professional.
