Hoarseness may be defined as any change in vocal quality. Hoarseness may be described as breathy, coarse, gravelly, or weak, among many other descriptions. Hoarseness may be caused by diseases of the vocal fold - infection, inflammation, neoplasms (growths - may be benign or cancerous), neurologic, or muscular diseases. Hoarseness may be treated either medically (antibiotics, steroids, anti-reflux medication, etc.) or surgically, depending on the cause.
