Voice complaints (hoarseness) | De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen

Voice complaints can show up in various ways. The voice sounds cracked, squeaky or very soft, and sometimes disappears altogether.

De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen ENT care Throat & voice Coughing Lump in the throat Swallowing difficulties Tonsillitis Voice complaints Nose & sinuses Loss of smell Nasal congestion Nasal polyps Sinusitis Ears & hearing Ear infection Earache Earwax Hearing loss Tinnitus Focus areas Allergy Sleep & snoring The practice For referrers Contact Request a referral NL EN DE Home / Throat & voice / Voice complaints Throat Voice complaints (hoarseness) Voice complaints can show up in various ways. The voice sounds cracked, squeaky or very soft, and sometimes disappears altogether. Request a referral Treatment On this page How does the voice work? What is hoarseness? Causes and assessment Treatment and tips What you can expect Frequently asked questions The vocal cords How does the voice work? We use the vocal cords to make (voice) sound. These are located in the larynx. The vocal cords can open and close. This sets the air vibrating, which produces sound. The loudness of the voice can be influenced by tensing the vocal cords and muscles more or less. This can also affect the pitch. Voice complaints, hoarseness What is hoarseness? Sometimes it's described as being "husky" or "having no voice". Voice complaints can be very troublesome, especially if you need your voice for your profession. It's therefore important to identify the cause so a suitable treatment can be started. Assessment Causes and assessment Voice problems can have many different causes. To find out exactly what the cause is, the ENT specialist will ask you a number of questions and examine your vocal cords. The specialist looks with a small camera on a thin tube in your throat; if you'd like, you can watch along on the screen yourself. Usually this is enough to identify the cause. Sometimes a speech therapist also needs to look at your voice complaints. In that case you're referred to one of the specialised speech therapists we work with. Voice misuse Frequent shouting or, conversely, whispering can irritate the vocal cords and cause symptoms. Exposure to certain gases or fumes and smoking can also affect your voice. Infection In many cases voice problems are caused by an infection. This is often harmless and usually resolves on its own. Sometimes medication is needed, or it needs to be assessed whether there's another source of infection, such as in the sinuses. Swelling A benign swelling of the vocal cords occurs regularly and is usually treatable. Think of vocal cord polyps or nodules on the vocal cords. Improper vocal cord use When you consistently use your vocal cords incorrectly, this can cause symptoms. A referral to a speech therapist is usually the solution. Cancer Cancer of the vocal cords can cause symptoms such as hoarseness. Fortunately this form of cancer is very rare and, in an early stage, treatable well. Treating voice complaints Treatment tailored to you Which treatment is used depends entirely on the cause of your voice complaints. The ENT specialist always discusses her findings with you and takes the time to look with you at the best treatment. What you can do yourself for voice problems Stop smoking Try not to strain your voice, especially when you have a cold Breathe mainly through your nose and drink enough: a dried-out mucous membrane can cause symptoms Try to speak calmly and use your vocal cords properly Try to shout, whisper, clear your throat or cough as little as possible What you can expect Here's how your care journey goes Your GP refers you; we schedule a first conversation about your voice complaints. The ENT specialist asks about your symptoms in detail to get a clear picture of your case. We look at your vocal cords with a small camera; you can watch along on the screen. We discuss the best treatment and continue to monitor its effect with you. Who treats you One dedicated ENT specialist throughout your care You are supported personally, from the first consultation through to treatment. dr. Anne-Martine de Heer ENT specialist BIG 19066557501 Frequently asked questions Frequently asked questions {{ f.q }} {{ f.sign }} {{ f.a }} Make an appointment Persistent hoarseness or voice complaints? For an appointment at De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen you need a referral from your GP. Discuss your symptoms with your GP; they assess whether a referral is needed. With the referral, you contact us and we schedule your consultation. Get in touch Other throat complaints How to arrange a referral Discuss your symptoms with your GP Your GP assesses whether a referral is needed Get in touch to schedule your consultation De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen Personal, specialist care in Nijmegen and the surrounding area. Feedback & complaints Privacy notice © 2026 De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen · KvK 68663137 · AGB 22221372
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Throat

Voice complaints (hoarseness)

Voice complaints can show up in various ways. The voice sounds cracked, squeaky or very soft, and sometimes disappears altogether.

Request a referral Treatment
The vocal cords

How does the voice work?

We use the vocal cords to make (voice) sound. These are located in the larynx. The vocal cords can open and close. This sets the air vibrating, which produces sound.

The loudness of the voice can be influenced by tensing the vocal cords and muscles more or less. This can also affect the pitch.

Voice complaints, hoarseness

What is hoarseness?

Sometimes it's described as being "husky" or "having no voice". Voice complaints can be very troublesome, especially if you need your voice for your profession. It's therefore important to identify the cause so a suitable treatment can be started.

Assessment

Causes and assessment

Voice problems can have many different causes. To find out exactly what the cause is, the ENT specialist will ask you a number of questions and examine your vocal cords. The specialist looks with a small camera on a thin tube in your throat; if you'd like, you can watch along on the screen yourself. Usually this is enough to identify the cause. Sometimes a speech therapist also needs to look at your voice complaints. In that case you're referred to one of the specialised speech therapists we work with.

Voice misuse

Frequent shouting or, conversely, whispering can irritate the vocal cords and cause symptoms. Exposure to certain gases or fumes and smoking can also affect your voice.

Infection

In many cases voice problems are caused by an infection. This is often harmless and usually resolves on its own. Sometimes medication is needed, or it needs to be assessed whether there's another source of infection, such as in the sinuses.

Swelling

A benign swelling of the vocal cords occurs regularly and is usually treatable. Think of vocal cord polyps or nodules on the vocal cords.

Improper vocal cord use

When you consistently use your vocal cords incorrectly, this can cause symptoms. A referral to a speech therapist is usually the solution.

Cancer

Cancer of the vocal cords can cause symptoms such as hoarseness. Fortunately this form of cancer is very rare and, in an early stage, treatable well.

Treating voice complaints

Treatment tailored to you

Which treatment is used depends entirely on the cause of your voice complaints. The ENT specialist always discusses her findings with you and takes the time to look with you at the best treatment.

What you can do yourself for voice problems
    Stop smoking Try not to strain your voice, especially when you have a cold Breathe mainly through your nose and drink enough: a dried-out mucous membrane can cause symptoms Try to speak calmly and use your vocal cords properly Try to shout, whisper, clear your throat or cough as little as possible
What you can expect

Here's how your care journey goes

Your GP refers you; we schedule a first conversation about your voice complaints. The ENT specialist asks about your symptoms in detail to get a clear picture of your case. We look at your vocal cords with a small camera; you can watch along on the screen. We discuss the best treatment and continue to monitor its effect with you.
Who treats you

One dedicated ENT specialist throughout your care

You are supported personally, from the first consultation through to treatment.

dr. Anne-Martine de HeerENT specialist
BIG 19066557501
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

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Make an appointment

Persistent hoarseness or voice complaints?

For an appointment at De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen you need a referral from your GP. Discuss your symptoms with your GP; they assess whether a referral is needed. With the referral, you contact us and we schedule your consultation.

Get in touch Other throat complaints
How to arrange a referral
    Discuss your symptoms with your GP Your GP assesses whether a referral is needed Get in touch to schedule your consultation