Introduction
There are a variety of possible reasons for throat pain. The fact whether the pain occurs especially when speaking or even without any strain or even at night often helps to diagnose the cause.
Causes
Laryngeal pain, which occurs particularly when speaking, is most frequently caused by laryngitis, which in its acute form is usually caused by viruses and in its chronic form is usually caused by long-term stress on the vocal chords or larynx, such as smoking, dry air or alcohol. Since the vocal chords, which are usually irritated, reddened and swollen by the inflammatory processes here, are repeatedly put under tension when speaking and collide or rub against each other, the pain in this disease is particularly pronounced when speaking. Speaking should therefore be avoided as completely as possible in the case of laryngitis, on the one hand to avoid the pain and on the other hand to prevent the inflamed mucous membrane from degenerating into a precancerous stage.
Because of the hoarseness that often accompanies the pain, many sufferers tend to whisper when they want to speak. This is not advisable, however, as it puts the vocal chords under particular strain. It is not uncommon for patients with laryngitis to experience a complete loss of voice (aphonia).
After the disease has healed, voice training (speech therapy) is sometimes necessary to learn to speak correctly again. In addition to speaking, swallowing is often impaired by the pain (see: Pain when swallowing), which often leads to a complete refusal to eat, especially in smaller children. At the latest then a doctor must be consulted.
Which could also be of interest to you: What to do in the case of a laryngitis? If laryngeal pain occurs completely independently of speaking, whereas an association with food intake can be established, it can be assumed that the pain is caused by a reflux of acid gastric juice. Even in the case of more chronic inflammation of the larynx or cancer, it is usually not the pain when speaking that is the main cause, but a permanently present hoarseness and a compulsion to clear the throat.
