what causes hoarse?
Hoarseness can be caused by a number of conditions. The most common cause of hoarseness is acute laryngitis (inflammation of the vocal cords) caused most often by an upper respiratory tract infection (usually viral), and less commonly from overuse or misuse of the voice (such as from yelling or singing). Other causes of hoarseness include: 1  benign vocal cord nodules, cysts or polyps, 2  gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), 3  allergies, 4  inhalation of respiratory tract irritants, 5  smoking, 6  thyroid problems, 7  trauma to the larynx/vocal cords, 8  neurological conditions (such as Parkinson's disease and strokes), and. 9  cancer of the larynx.