Why baby hoarse

Top of the page. Overview Laryngitis is an inflammation of the voice box larynx that causes your child's voice to become raspy or hoarse. How can you care for your child at home? Follow your doctor's directions for treating the condition that caused your child to lose his or her voice. Have your child rest his or her voice. Your child does not have to stop speaking but should use his or her voice as little as possible.

Teach your child to speak softly but not whisper; whispering can bother the larynx more than speaking softly. Have your child avoid talking on the telephone or trying to speak loudly. Have your child drink plenty of water to keep the throat moist. Be careful with cough and cold medicines. Don't give them to children younger than 6, because they don't work for children that age and can even be harmful. For children 6 and older, always follow all the instructions carefully.

Make sure you know how much medicine to give and how long to use it. And use the dosing device if one is included. If your child has acid reflux, try to keep stomach acid from backing up into the throat. Have your child avoid eating just before bedtime.

Have your child avoid or limit foods such as tomatoes, spicy foods, and chocolate. If the doctor says to, giving over-the-counter acid reducers can help when these steps are not enough. In some cases, your child may need prescription medicine. Tell your child to try not to clear his or her throat. This can cause more irritation of the larynx. Use an over-the-counter cough suppressant if your doctor recommends it if your child has a dry cough that does not produce mucus. Laryngeal stroboscopy.

To get an accurate view of the vocal cords in action, doctors pass either a rigid or flexible scope attached to a strobe light into the throat.

The strobe light flickers in sync with the vibration of the vocal cords as a person speaks. This makes it easier for doctors to determine the frequency of movement.

Because individual vibrations are too fast for the naked eye to see, the strobe technology projects the vibrations in slow motion. Treatment for hoarseness caused by vocal cord nodules involves making behavioral changes so that the vocal cords can heal. Speech therapists work one-on-one with kids and their families to promote good vocal habits, or what's called "vocal hygiene. It might be hard for kids with established bad habits — like talking loudly when they're excited or clearing their throats when they're nervous — to make changes.

The first step is to make kids aware of the behavior and see how often they do it. Older kids might learn to keep track of how often they engage in the behavior perhaps keeping notes in a diary , which many do without realizing.

Then they can practice the skills they've learned in therapy when at home, at school, and spending time with friends. Parents can encourage good vocal habits by setting a good example themselves. For example, rather than calling to kids from another room, walk into the other room to talk to them.

Promote quiet times perhaps for half an hour each day and using an "inside voice" when indoors. Reward systems that encourage these new behaviors can help elementary school-age kids succeed.

Offer stickers, tokens, extra TV time, a later bedtime, or similar "prizes" to get kids on board with the new, healthier habits. Reviewed by: Patrick C. Barth, MD. Call anytime you think your child may need emergency care. For example, call if:. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:.

Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:. Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Your Care Instructions Many things can cause your child's voice to become rough, raspy, or hard to hear. How can you care for your child at home?

Follow the doctor's advice about how much to talk.