How Long Does It Take To Get Your Voice Back

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People lose their voices for various reasons, from shouting too much at a concert to the common cold. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to get your voice back, and wikiHow will show you how.

1
Rest your voice for as long as possible but don't whisper. Simply talking at a normal volume can place undo strain on vocal chords that can cause a delay in your overall recovery time. Of course, certain situations necessitate speaking. Limiting the use of your vocal chords can help to speed up the healing process, so

try not to speak at all.
- Whispering is a no-no. It's unnatural and actually puts more strain on your vocal folds.
- Keep a pad and paper with you to write down what you need to relay to others. This might actually be quite fun!
2

Gargle with saltwater . Gargling hydrates your throat, softens your vocal chords and speeds the process of restoring your voice. There are over-the-counter mouthwashes you may select to gargle that can also help kill bacteria in your throat that may be causing your voice loss. Remember, if you zap a cup of water in the microwave, make sure the water isn't too hot -- the last thing you want is to literally scorch the lining of your throat.

How to Gargle Saltwater
Mix salt and water. Add ¹⁄₃ to 1 teaspoon (1.6 to 4.9 mL) of table or sea salt to 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) of water. Using more salt will create a stronger solution.
Gargle for 30 seconds. Pour 2-3 ounces of the solution into your mouth and tilt your head slightly back. Keep the back of your throat closed and gargle for a full 30 seconds.
Repeat. Keep doing this until you have gargled all of the solution. You can gargle saltwater every 2-3 hours.
3

Warm up your body with yoga. Your voice is ultimately part of your body, so if you want to warm up your voice, warm up your entire being. Yoga is a great way to become aware of your body and start cueing your diaphragm to action. If you're not super sick, it's a good way to get loose (if you are super sick, you might want to stay in bed!).

Lion Roar Exercise
This is a great exercise to get your diaphragm working.
Sit on the floor with your knees bent. Make sure they're slightly apart.
Place your hands on the knees and, with arms stretched out straight, inhale deeply through your nose.
Exhale strongly through your mouth.
Bring your hands to your knees and press them firmly, spreading your fingers wide apart.
Look up, stretch the tongue out and vocalize a lion's roar – a loud, open "ahhh" sound. Make sure this sound is coming from your diaphragm and not your throat!
4

Utilize the power of steam. It's all about hydration, really. If you can have water in and around you, you'll be well-off. If a hot, steamy shower isn't up your alley at the moment, you can easily steam your vocal cords with a pot of boiling water and a towel.

How to Steam Your Vocal Cords
Bring water to a boil. You can just do this on your stove.
Take it off the stove once it's boiling. Move it to a safe place, like a wood cutting board.
Place a towel over your head. Pull the sides of the towel taut so it creates a little cave.
Lean over the pot and inhale the steam. Do this for 10-15 minutes. You should start to feel your sinuses clearing
Repeat twice a day. ^[1]
5
Quit smoking . If it hasn't already been drilled into you years ago, smoking is absolutely terrible for all aspects of your health, including your voice. Talk about drying out your esophagus! You might as well be charring your vocal folds.
- Just in case you were wondering, quitting smoking is cheaper, is better for those around you, cuts your risk of heart disease and lung and bladder cancer, and makes all levels of exercise much, much easier.
6
Wrap your neck with a scarf. The scarf will keep your neck warm, which can help it heal. This is particularly helpful if you lost your voice due to time spent in cold weather, or if it's cold outside.
- Make sure the scarf is loose around your throat. You don't want to wrap it too tightly.
7
Use a cool mist vaporizer. A vaporizer will increase the humidity in the air, moistening your airways. The added moisture will help your vocal cords recover so you can speak again.^[2]
- You can buy a cool mist vaporizer at your local drugstore or online.
8
Get plenty of sleep every night. Your body repairs itself at night while you sleep. It's important you get adequate rest every night, so make sure you sleep for at least 7-9 hours a night.
- Follow a bedtime routine to relax yourself before bed.
- Go to bed at the same time every night, and get up at the same time each day.
9
Visit your doctor. If you simply sang karaoke a few too many times last night, you probably don't have too much to worry about in the scheme of things. However, if you woke up one day a week ago and haven't spoken since, that's cause for alarm. Visit your doctor to see what's going on.
- Generally speaking,
  anything more than a few days warrants a doctor's visit.
  It's always better to be cautious than stubborn. And if it's accompanied with other symptoms (coughing, fever, etc.) definitely pay him/her a visit.

1
Drink plenty of water . Keep your body well-hydrated while restoring your voice. Increasing your fluid intake helps your throat produce a healthy amount of moisture and restores voice functions. Moisture is key to getting your voice back.
- Hot water that's not hot enough to scald can be soothing for your throat. You might also drink hot tea.
- What's the opposite of water? Alcohol and caffeine. They drys out your throat and leave your entire body dehydrated. If you want to get your voice back anytime soon, you'll need to avoid them.
2
Avoid acidic food and drinks. Acidic foods and beverages such as

tea, citrus fruit and chocolate

do not have any direct, positive effect on the vocal cords but do

promote acid reflux (a very bad thing).

Acid reflux can worsen the inflammation and exacerbate voice loss. The best way to rid of foreign substances and bacteria which may be prolonging the voice loss is to drink plenty of clean water.
- You heard right: tea is acidic and acidic things are bad for the lining of your esophagus.^[3] The people that swear by it probably swear by it because it makes them feel better. It's rather soothing, but it doesn't necessarily help the actual problem.
3
Keep your liquids warm. Alright, since you're probably not only going to be drinking water,

whatever you do drink, keep it warm.

You don't want it too cold or too hot -- both have adverse effects on the lining of your throat. And if you are drinking tea (let's face it, you probably are), honey is okay.
- Curious about milk? Dairy products will coat your throat. This can be soothing, but it just covers up the problem and it will return shortly. If you're performing, be sure not to consume dairy in the hours before your performance.

1
Visit your local pharmacy. There are at least a half a dozen products out there that claim to have some magical effect on voices. Emergen-C, Friar's Balsam, slippery elm, and Lemsip are just four products that claim to get the voice going again. If you're hard up for a magical answer, one of these may work for you.
- But just for the record, water, water, water, water and vocal rest is really the best solution. Don't depend on these for a miracle.
2
Brew a throat coat tea. This herbal tea contains a blend of herbs that help soothe your throat and vocal cords. Make sure the tea is not too hot, however, as you can burn your throat.
- Enjoy your tea once or twice a day.
3

Drink licorice tea to reduce inflammation. If you enjoy herbal teas, you might also try a licorice tea. Not only will the tea help your throat and vocal cords, it can reduce inflammation throughout your body. Just make sure it's not too hot.
4
Use lozenges or cough drops to dull the pain. A change in weather or a dry environment can irritate the throat. Because of this, providing moisture can help soothe this irritation. The use of

cough drops or other lozenges are effective ways to keep your throat lubricated.
- Even chewing gum can help a dry mouth. The more you stay lubricated and hydrated, the better off you'll be.
5

Invest in a humidifier. Especially if a dry environment is the cause of the vocal irritation, this can also help resolve this issue. It's similar to throwing your head over a steaming pot of water, but more like the pot of water is circulating throughout the entire room.
6

Address the actual issue. Often losing your voice is a symptom of a larger problem. If you have a cough, cold or sore throat, address that instead of just your lost voice. You'll find that your voice will come back when you get on antibiotics, start filling up on vitamin C, feed that cold, or starve that fever.

Add New Question

Question

What should I do if I lose my voice before I have to sing?

Amy 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 Coach

Expert Answer

Rest 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.
Question

I lost my voice yesterday when I woke up, and my throat does not hurt. What should I do?

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.

Master's Degree, Nursing, University of Tennessee Knoxville

Expert Answer

Rest 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.
Question

What should I do if I lose my voice after singing at higher pitches?

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.

Master's Degree, Nursing, University of Tennessee Knoxville

Expert Answer

Start by resting your voice, which is very important. In the future, do warm-ups before you sing and don't sing out of your range.

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See a doctor if your voice does not come back within a few days. The extended loss of your voice could be a symptom of a more serious condition that requires medical attention.
If you do not feel that you have excess mucus, do not drink warm liquids. Sore throat is actually the result of inflamed vocal chords. Your vocal chords react similarly to other parts of your body. For example, if your ankle is swollen, you put ice on it, but if it's just achy, you put heat on it. This is because cold slows down circulation and helps with swelling, while heat increases circulation and inflammation. If sore throat is unaccompanied by mucus, you should drink cool liquids to help decrease the swelling in your vocal chords.

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Article SummaryX

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…

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Reader Success Stories

Sharon Nickoles

Mar 15, 2018

"I have had laryngitis for a week. I have been whispering, and writing notes. I had no idea whispering was worse..." more