Nasal Voice
Free Symptom Checker
with Physician-supervised AI
Reviewed By:
Eric A. Gantwerker, MD, MMSC (Otolaryngology (ENT))
Pediatric Otolaryngologist at Northwell Health and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He holds a Master of Medical Science (MMSc) in Medical Education with a special focus on educational technology, educational research, and game-based learning from Harvard Medical School and a Master of Science in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University. He has a special interest in faculty development and has been a speaker or faculty at hundreds of local, national, and international courses and conferences. He is also an active blogger and podcaster for several organizations, including the Harvard Macy Institute (HMI), Harvard Medical School CME Online, and BackTable Innovations. He has been featured in the news and print for media outlets such as USA Today, Businesswire, The Washington Post, Nature Medicine, Fox News, and KevinMD. He was also the Vice President, Medical Director of a medical video game company, Level Ex from 2018 to 2023 that utilized game technology and psychology to create interactive experiences for healthcare professionals. | He is recognized as an expert on the implementation of educational technologies and gaming with a foundation in educational theory for health professions education. He was honored to be inducted as an Associate Member of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators and as an Associate Fellow of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE).
Rohini R, MD (Otolaryngology (ENT))
Dr. Rohini R is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, with a Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine and Lasers. Besides clinical practice and working with Ubie, she is actively training and mentoring medical students and residents. She has functioned in various work settings - teaching hospitals, private and free health centers, and worked with patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds due to her experience in free hospitals and volunteering in India and Singapore.
Content updated on Apr 4, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Speaking with their nose
Nasally voice
Nasal voice
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
About the Symptom
Nasal voice refers to a person's voice sounding like it has too much (hypernasal) or too little (hyponasal) air in the nose. Hyponasal conditions can make someone sound like they may have an upper respiratory infection or cold and can be due to nasal blockage from things like inflammation, nasal polyps, or enlarged lymphoid tissue in the nose (also known as adenoids). Hypernasal conditions can be due to the soft palate not adequately closing against the back wall of the throat and results in difficulty understanding speech in certain settings or even water or food traveling to the nose during eating and drinking. This is a condition called velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI).
When to see a doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
Difficulty breathing / breathlessness
Fever
Possible Causes
Generally, Nasal voice can be related to:
- Allergic Rhinitis / Allergic Conjunctivitis (Including Spring Catarrh)
A condition caused by allergens like pollen and dust mites, resulting in a runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes.
- Sinusitis
Infection of the sinuses, which are cavities around the nose and face. The infection can be acute (lasting about a week) or chronic (lasting more than three months). Most often infections start as a viral upper respiratory infection (URI) and then bacterial infection sets in. The symptoms include fever, facial pain or pressure, and nasal obstruction or drainage. Imaging including CT scans may be necessary.
- Common Cold (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection)
Viral infection of the nose and throat. Symptoms include coughing, runny nose, and throat pain. Most colds are caused by viruses; a few are caused by bacteria.
COVID-19
- Rhinitis Sicca
- Influenza (Flu)
- Ear Infection
- Drug Induced Rhinitis
- Acute Tonsillitis / Pharyngitis
Related serious diseases
Sometimes, Nasal voice may be related to these serious diseases:
- Pneumonia (Lower Respiratory Tract Infection)
Inflammation of the lungs. Symptoms include cough, increased phlegm, and fever. Some patients may experience breathlessness and chest pain. The most common cause is a bacterial infection.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
Do you have a stuffy nose right now?
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Find Similar Symptoms
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References
Young A, Spinner A. Velopharyngeal Insufficiency. 2023 Jan 12. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 33085296.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33085296/
Resonance Disorders - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/resonance-disorders/
Resonance Disorders - Texas Children’s Hospital
https://www.texaschildrens.org/content/conditions/resonance-disorders
Reviewed By:
Eric A. Gantwerker, MD, MMSC (Otolaryngology (ENT))
Pediatric Otolaryngologist at Northwell Health and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He holds a Master of Medical Science (MMSc) in Medical Education with a special focus on educational technology, educational research, and game-based learning from Harvard Medical School and a Master of Science in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University. He has a special interest in faculty development and has been a speaker or faculty at hundreds of local, national, and international courses and conferences. He is also an active blogger and podcaster for several organizations, including the Harvard Macy Institute (HMI), Harvard Medical School CME Online, and BackTable Innovations. He has been featured in the news and print for media outlets such as USA Today, Businesswire, The Washington Post, Nature Medicine, Fox News, and KevinMD. He was also the Vice President, Medical Director of a medical video game company, Level Ex from 2018 to 2023 that utilized game technology and psychology to create interactive experiences for healthcare professionals. | He is recognized as an expert on the implementation of educational technologies and gaming with a foundation in educational theory for health professions education. He was honored to be inducted as an Associate Member of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators and as an Associate Fellow of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE).
Rohini R, MD (Otolaryngology (ENT))
Dr. Rohini R is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, with a Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine and Lasers. Besides clinical practice and working with Ubie, she is actively training and mentoring medical students and residents. She has functioned in various work settings - teaching hospitals, private and free health centers, and worked with patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds due to her experience in free hospitals and volunteering in India and Singapore.
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Dale Mueller, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Associates
