Hoarse voice
A hoarse voice (also called dysphonia) is a rough, strained or weak voice, which can have many causes. Read more about hoarse voice →
If symptoms are sudden, severe or getting worse, contact your GP or NHS 111.
Where are you up to?
The NHS reports waiting times by specialty, not by individual condition, so this is the ent wait (not specific to hoarse voice), updated August 2026. Enter a postcode to see the hospitals near you.
ent waiting times by hospital
| Trust | Location | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust | Reading | 4 weeks |
| Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Cheshire West and Chester | 7 weeks |
| United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust | Lincoln | 7 weeks |
| Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust | Wiltshire | 8 weeks |
| South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust | Middlesbrough | 9 weeks |
| Stockport NHS Foundation Trust | Stockport | 9 weeks |
| Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust | Barnsley | 10 weeks |
| Isle of Wight NHS Trust | Isle of Wight | 10 weeks |
About hoarse voice
A hoarse voice is a change in how your voice sounds, such as becoming rough, raspy, strained or weaker than usual. It is often caused by a viral infection, overusing the voice, smoking or acid reflux, and usually settles on its own. A hoarse voice that lasts more than about three weeks should be checked, as it can occasionally have a cause that needs treatment.
How it is treated
Treatment depends on the cause. Resting the voice, staying well hydrated, stopping smoking and treating reflux often help. If the hoarseness persists, an ENT specialist can look at the voice box with a small camera passed through the nose. Voice therapy with a speech and language therapist helps many people, and where a growth such as a nodule or polyp is found, it can be treated.
After treatment
Most hoarse voices recover fully, especially once any cause such as infection, voice overuse or reflux is dealt with. Looking after your voice, keeping hydrated and not smoking all help prevent it returning.
Sources: NHS: Hoarseness. Last updated October 2026.
General information only, not medical advice. Wait or Pay is independent and is not the NHS. Your GP decides what care, if any, you need.