What's causing my vocal fry?
December 12, 2011 2:50 AM Subscribe
Can 'vocal fry' be a symptom of hypothyroidism? You're not my doctor, I know, but has anyone else experienced this? Should I be concerned?
I've found my voice slipping into the gurgley lower registers a LOT lately. It's not voluntary; I have to take a few breaths and 'reset' my voice before I go on. I'm a woman (non-smoker) in my mid-forties and I've been taking levothroid for hypothyroid for about 8 years. I don't sing or yodel or use my voice in any way other than yelling at the kids on my lawn (kidding). I've noticed this over the last month or so; this blog post shook me up enough to ask about it.
I've found my voice slipping into the gurgley lower registers a LOT lately. It's not voluntary; I have to take a few breaths and 'reset' my voice before I go on. I'm a woman (non-smoker) in my mid-forties and I've been taking levothroid for hypothyroid for about 8 years. I don't sing or yodel or use my voice in any way other than yelling at the kids on my lawn (kidding). I've noticed this over the last month or so; this blog post shook me up enough to ask about it.
Response by poster: I think they're the same, illenion. That boingboing post I linked to uses the terms to describe the same vocal sound. But in my case, I'm not dropping my voice for effect and I'm not from the Pacific Northwest, this is something my voice is just...doing.
posted by biddeford at 3:10 AM on December 12, 2011
posted by biddeford at 3:10 AM on December 12, 2011
Yes, hoarseness is a symptom of hypothroidism.
posted by availablelight at 4:01 AM on December 12, 2011
posted by availablelight at 4:01 AM on December 12, 2011
Best answer: There are some voice symptoms associated with the thyroid gland. Have you heard of myesthenia gravis? It is a condition associated with the thyroid gland, and is characterized by a weakened voice with low volume and a "gravelly" sound. However, the biggest symptom is that the voice gets weaker in the afternoon/evening. (It's been a while since grad school, but yes, there are some voice conditions associated with the thyroid.)
An ENT might be the best specialist to talk with. Some speech therapists work in ENT offices, so the ENT can look at the structure of your larynx and vocal folds and rule out a physiological issue, and then the speech therapist can give you exercises or tips for how to manage/improve your voice symptoms.
Since it seems like your symptoms came on suddenly, I'd get checked with an ENT just to rule out polyps or something like that. (These can happen almost overnight in adults, usually after a cold or when you've strained your voice.)
Best of luck to you!
posted by shortyJBot at 4:26 AM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
An ENT might be the best specialist to talk with. Some speech therapists work in ENT offices, so the ENT can look at the structure of your larynx and vocal folds and rule out a physiological issue, and then the speech therapist can give you exercises or tips for how to manage/improve your voice symptoms.
Since it seems like your symptoms came on suddenly, I'd get checked with an ENT just to rule out polyps or something like that. (These can happen almost overnight in adults, usually after a cold or when you've strained your voice.)
Best of luck to you!
posted by shortyJBot at 4:26 AM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yes, my SIL has this; I don't. She also has Hashimotos, and I believe that is the reason. And she's lived in the Pac NW for about 14 years, but I doubt she's picked up any regional sounds.
posted by jgirl at 5:08 AM on December 12, 2011
posted by jgirl at 5:08 AM on December 12, 2011
I forgot to say that she went to speech therapy for a while for this.
posted by jgirl at 5:09 AM on December 12, 2011
posted by jgirl at 5:09 AM on December 12, 2011
Best answer: I have Hashimotos and changes in my voice is one of my more obvious symptoms that I need to get checked again. For me, when my voice gets deeper, has more gravel in it, when I can't sing or yell, I know my dose of levothyroxin is not right. I schedule with my endocrinologist for a check up, including blood work, even if it is a few months before my normally scheduled visit. Each time, we've found that I needed to increase my dose and that my thyroid was larger than at the last visit. When we increase the dose, it seems like my thyroid goes down enough in size to let me have my voice back.
With my Mom's Hashimotos, her thyroid got out of control and was essentially strangling her vocal cords. She ended up having her thyroid completely removed for several reasons, not just the vocal impact. She's never been able to sing or yell since.
I would schedule some time with my physician if I were you.
posted by onhazier at 7:06 AM on December 12, 2011
With my Mom's Hashimotos, her thyroid got out of control and was essentially strangling her vocal cords. She ended up having her thyroid completely removed for several reasons, not just the vocal impact. She's never been able to sing or yell since.
I would schedule some time with my physician if I were you.
posted by onhazier at 7:06 AM on December 12, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks onhazier & shortyJbot, I've got Hashimotos too, but this wasn't a symtom for me before. I'll give my doc a call later today. Thanks again for the kind words and advice!
posted by biddeford at 11:06 AM on December 12, 2011
posted by biddeford at 11:06 AM on December 12, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by illenion at 3:01 AM on December 12, 2011 [1 favorite]