Lost Your Voice? Here’s How to Recover Quickly
Whether you’ve been singing (read screaming) along at your favourite gig, giving presentations all day, or fighting off a cold, losing your voice can be frustrating, especially if you rely on it for work or socialising.
What Causes Voice Loss?
Voice loss, or laryngitis, occurs when your vocal cords become inflamed. This inflammation affects how they vibrate, resulting in hoarseness or total voice loss.
Common causes include1:
- Viral infections – such as a cold or flu
- Overuse – shouting, singing, or long periods of speaking
- Irritants – like smoke, dry air or allergens
- Acid reflux (GERD) – stomach acid can irritate the throat
- Post-nasal drip – from colds or allergies
Symptoms to Watch Out For
- Hoarseness or weak voice
- Dry, scratchy throat
- Frequent throat clearing
- Mild pain or irritation when speaking
- Loss of voice entirely in some cases
These symptoms usually develop suddenly and worsen over 1–2 days. In most cases, they resolve within a week, but can linger longer depending on the cause.
How to Get Your Voice Back: Practical Remedies
1. Total Vocal Rest
This is the #1 rule: don’t talk, whisper or sing. Whispering can actually strain your voice more than gentle talking. Try to communicate in other ways (writing, texting) for a day or two.
2. Stay Hydrated
Drink warm liquids throughout the day. Water, herbal teas, and broths help thin mucus and keep your throat moist. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can dehydrate you.
3. Soothe Your Throat
Using lozenges can relieve soreness and help reduce inflammation. Chloralieve contains a mild local anaesthetic (lidocaine) to numb discomfort and an antiseptic (amylmetacresol) to fight bacteria in the mouth and throat, a real dual-action approach to fighting a sore throat!
4. Breathe Steam
Inhaling warm, moist air helps soothe your vocal cords. Try taking a hot shower or inhaling steam from a bowl of hot water (cover your head with a towel for best effect).
5. Avoid Irritants
Cigarette smoke, dry air, and even strong perfumes can irritate the throat. Use a humidifier if indoor air is dry, especially during winter.
6. Use OTC Pain Relief
Paracetamol or ibuprofen can help reduce inflammation and manage throat pain while you rest your voice.
When to See a Doctor
Most cases of laryngitis are mild and improve with rest, but you should seek medical advice if:
- Voice loss lasts more than 10 days
- You have a high fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing
- You frequently lose your voice without an obvious cause
- You’re a professional voice user (e.g. teacher, singer) and symptoms persist
Persistent hoarseness could indicate an underlying issue, such as vocal cord nodules, polyps, or acid reflux-related irritation (2).
Conclusion
Losing your voice is inconvenient, but with the right care, it usually clears up within a week. The most important thing you can do is rest your voice completely, keep your throat hydrated, and soothe symptoms with our dual-action lozenges.
And remember: prevention is key — avoid overusing your voice, stay hydrated, and treat sore throats early to avoid inflammation spreading to your vocal cords.