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Nearly everyone has heard an adult or a child with a hoarse, raspy voice. But what happens when the person with hoarseness is a baby? What caused it and what can you do about it?
Hoarseness is a common term used to describe a strained, raspy, or breathy voice, associated with changes in loudness or pitch, that often requires increased effort to use. While typically associated with singers and those who speak for a living, infant hoarseness (known as infant laryngitis) can also happen.
Hoarseness in infants has a number of causes. One of the most common is overuse. If a baby is crying too much, this can strain their vocal cords. This is no different than when you spend too much time cheering at a concert or sporting event. In rare cases, crying may also put enough stress on the vocal cords that your baby may develop nodules.
If your baby is sick, extra phlegm might be in their throats. Babies often can’t effectively clear their throats, so this buildup can affect their voices.
Acid reflux, which is common in babies, can sometimes lead to swelling in the voice box that may also contribute to hoarseness.
In very rare cases, your baby may have something more serious, such as weakness of the vocal cords, a congenital defect of the voice box, or even a tumor, CEENTA ENT doctor Jad Jabbour, MD, said. Often, a scope exam to evaluate the voice box will help determine if such a condition is present and what treatment would be best for it.
If your baby is crying a lot, and their hoarseness is thought to be due to overuse, there is unfortunately no treatment other than to calm and soothe them as you likely would anyway. If you are trying to allow them to cry for a reason such as sleep training, their hoarseness should not keep you from that goal, Dr. Jabbour said.
If their vocal issues are caused by illness or acid reflux, treating the underlying condition can help with the hoarseness. Your child’s doctor may prescribe medicine, depending on the condition and its severity. If your child is thought to have one of the rarer conditions listed above, your doctor may recommend further testing or even a surgical procedure, though non-surgical management is often sufficient.
If you are uncertain about what is causing your baby’s hoarseness, don’t hesitate to take them to a CEENTA ENT doctor. They will be able to diagnose your child and help you come up with a plan to make them sound and feel better.
This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your physician. Dr. Jabbour practices in our SouthPark office. Are you looking for a pediatric ENT doctor? Call 704-295-3000. You can also schedule an appointment online or through myCEENTAchart.
You’re doing everything right to keep your voice healthy. You don’t overuse it. You keep any acid reflux under control. You do exercises to keep it strong. Despite all that, you still have hoarseness. What’s causing the problem? As it turns out, it might be allergies.
Help your child hear safely.
CEENTA ENT specialist Brett Heavner, MD, appeared on WCNC's Charlotte Today to discuss voice hoarseness and possible causes.
