Hoarse Sense

There’s a subset of the population that continues to be impacted by the COVID-19 precautions.

Just when it seemed facial coverings to protect against COVID-19 could soon head the way of the micro purse, along came the delta variant. That prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to recommend that masks be worn indoors in coronavirus hotspots and led some businesses to mandate mask use for employees.

The recommendations and requirements have people of all ages, vaccinated or unvaccinated, masking up again. They’re rejoining those who, for various reasons, have worn facial coverings since the virus first began to spread. Think health care workers, hairdressers, people with underlying medical conditions, and most anyone working in a restaurant, retail shop or public transportation.

Unfortunately, many of those people are winding up in the office of Kelly Yurasko, MSLP, CCC, SLP, a speech pathologist with Atlantic Ear, Nose & Throat.

“Because they’re wearing masks, speaking through barriers and social distancing, there’s an entire subset of the population that continues to be impacted by the COVID-19 precautions they’re having to take,” Kelly explains.

“These patients typically present with soreness, tightness or fatigue in their throat; a strain when speaking, or their voice just gets worse the more they use it. Some even feel a little shortness of breath or get a little winded when speaking.

“The concern here is that when you’re suffering from some of these issues, it can lead to other problems. For example, muscle tension or vocal strain can lead to things like nodules – or little calluses on the vocal cords – or other vocal pathologies.

“We’re talking about coughing, constant throat clearing or a feeling there’s something stuck in your throat. Difficulty swallowing is another issue we’re seeing, but the good news is that we’re able to treat these problems.”

Treatment includes exercises designed to alleviate the strain on the vocal cords and speech therapy. There is also a simpler fix that can not only alleviate some of these problems, but also prevent them from starting.

“In a lot of cases, we’re recommending that patients simply increase their hydration,” Kelly reasons. “We say that because we’re finding people often don’t drink enough when they wear masks or face shields.

Drinking water helps to lubricate the vocal cords because it thins out the mucus that lubricates them, Kelly points out. The more you drink, the thinner the mucus becomes, and thinner mucus does a better job of lubricating the vocal cords.

“Another idea for people to do is decrease background noise,” Kelly offers. “That way, there is no need to raise their voice or strain to be heard. If you’re doing a lot of Zoom calls or things like that, make sure you have a good microphone and amplification.

“Allergies and acid reflux can cause a lot of these problems so managing those issues helps as well. The bottom line is: If you’re having a problem, we can help you. And in most cases, the fix is a simple one.”