This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS and by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
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Are you looking for home remedies to help you get your voice back as quickly as possible? Then you’ve come to the right place! You might lose your voice for many reasons, from laryngitis or the common cold to shouting too much at a concert or inhaling too much dust. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to speed up your recovery, regardless of what’s causing the irritation to your vocal cords. Read on for a comprehensive list of tips to help you get your voice back fast.
Things You Should Know
- Drink lots of water and warm fluids like decaffeinated herbal tea and broth to soothe your throat. Avoid beverages with alcohol and caffeine.
- Give your vocal cords plenty of rest. Avoid talking altogether when you can, or communicate in a soft voice—but avoid whispering.
- Set up a cool mist humidifier to keep the air moist, and breathe in steam using your shower or by heating up a pot of water.
- Gargle with salt water to lubricate your throat. Suck on throat lozenges or use chewing gum to keep your throat moist.
Steps
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat should I do if I lose my voice before I have to sing?Amy Chapman, MAAmy Chapman MA, CCC-SLP is a vocal therapist and singing voice specialist. Amy is a licensed and board certified speech & language pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping professionals improve and optimize their voice. Amy has lectured on voice optimization, speech, vocal health, and voice rehabilitation at universities across California, including UCLA, USC, Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, CSUF, CSULA. Amy is trained in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, Estill, LMRVT, and is a part of the American Speech and Hearing Association.
Voice & Speech CoachRest your voice to keep your vocal cords from getting aggravated. You can also do some kind of cool down exercise, like lip trills or hums, after each singing session to keep your voice from wearing out. Sleeping with a humidifier on is also a great way to keep your voice from drying out at night. You should also drink plenty of water to help hydrate your throat. If this is a consistent problem, consider reaching out to a vocal coach. There are a lot of laryngeal manipulation exercises you can do to improve the strength and health of your voice. -
QuestionI lost my voice yesterday when I woke up, and my throat does not hurt. What should I do?Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MSLuba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
Board-Certified Family Nurse PractitionerRest your voice, gargle with salt water, and drink warm fluids, such as teas and soup. Avoid cold, salty, spicy, and crunchy foods, which can irritate your throat. You should also avoid caffeine and alcohol. Wear a scarf during the day, and use a vaporizer at night. Finally, don't whisper and avoid secondhand smoke. -
QuestionWhat should I do if I lose my voice after singing at higher pitches?Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MSLuba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
References
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/losing-your-voice-whats-going-on-in-your-body/
- ↑ https://health.osu.edu/wellness/prevention/protect-your-voice-when-cheering-on-your-team
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/water-drinks-nutrition/
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/359266/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4264806/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103721/
- ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-voice
- ↑ https://youtu.be/hs6qcylDD0I?t=1m1s
- ↑ https://www.yorku.ca/earmstro/journey/care.html
- ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-voice
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/laryngitis/
- ↑ https://www.yorku.ca/earmstro/journey/care.html
- ↑ https://www.yorku.ca/earmstro/journey/care.html
- ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-voice
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/losing-your-voice-whats-going-on-in-your-body/
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/losing-your-voice-whats-going-on-in-your-body/
- ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-voice
- ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-voice
- ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-voice
About This Article
If not talking in order to give your voice a chance to recover isn’t an option for you, try minimizing your time spent speaking and avoid whispering since it’ll make your throat worse. Avoid tea, citrus fruit, and chocolate, but try gargling warm water in order to hydrate your throat. Clear your sinuses by taking a hot, steamy shower or inhaling steam. For more advice, including medication that may help your voice heal, keep reading…
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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