Long Term Croaky Voice In Elderly Man

[cupotee2]

Hi,

My OH [82]has had a croaky voice most of the day since the end of last summer.

It isn't because he doesn't drink enough thirsty or had a cold. He's not had a cold all winter and some months before the croaking voice began.

I've read up on it and realise its not uncommon but never met anyone with the problem.

Has anyone come across this, please....?

[Buenchico]

I'll provide a link but (before Sqad accuses me of unnecessary scaremongering) I'll strongly emphasise a sentence from that page: "As these symptoms are similar to those of many other conditions, it's unlikely they are caused by cancer". However, as that page also indicates, it's best to get any such symptoms checked out.

However there are other ways that a person's larynx can become damaged, such as a tear occurring through heavy coughing. In an older person such a tear might take far longer to heal than with someone younger, so the damage could have occurred quite some time ago.

[Buenchico]

Oops!

That post would have made more sense if I'd remembered the link (which, as I've indicated above is VERY UNLIKELY to be related to the cause anyway):
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cancer-of-the-larynx/Pages/Introduction.aspx

[pusskin]

My sister-in-law has just had a croaky voice for a couple of months and now is under the hosp. She has something on the voice box and has to have an op to sort it out. Please refer him for a check up, but could be nothing!

[237SJ]

Another thing that can cause a croaky voice is hypothyroidism although I`m not sure how much of a problem that would be in an 82 year old.

[Sqad]

All the above posts have their degree of relevancy and the truth probably lies in a chronic laryngitis that often develops in the aged. No big deal.

However he should be assessed by as E.N,T surgeon.

[cupotee2]

Thank you all.

I will make him an appointment with the GP.

[jourdain2]

My OH (also 82) often has a croaky voice, we just put it down to age. Now we are back singing it seems to be a lot better (used to sing in a choir until about 18 months ago, re-started about 4 weeks ago). Don't know if this helps at all :)