Doctors reveal the real reason why we lose our voices and how to get it back

Doctors have broken down what happens when you lose your voice and the most important thing to do to recover it.

Most of us will have lost our voice before and it normally happens at the worst time - just before a big presentation, audition or interview.

But do you actually know what goes on in your body that leaves you as temporarily voiceless as Ariel in The Little Mermaid?

You can lose you voice as a result of inflammation in your throat (Getty Stock Images/ Kinga Krzeminska)

What it's like losing your voice

Claudio Milstein tells the Cleveland Clinic: "If you have lost your voice, you might find that your voice sounds rough, raspy, tired or feel like it takes a lot of effort to speak."

And the scientific term for losing your voice is laryngitis. Mayo Clinic explains that laryngitis is 'an inflammation of your voice box (larynx) from overuse, irritation or infection'.

But why does such inflammation cause us to ultimately lose the ability to speak?

Breaking it down scientifically

Well, when the voice box becomes inflamed or irritated your vocal chords - which lie inside - are impacted as well.

Your vocal chords are 'two folds of mucous membrane covering muscle and cartilage' which typically 'open and close smoothly, forming sounds through their movement and vibration'.

"Speech occurs when air flows from the lungs, up the windpipe (trachea) and through the voice box (larynx). This causes the vocal cords to vibrate, creating sound," Mayo Clinic continues. "Sound is shaped into words by the muscles controlling the soft palate, tongue and lips."

However, if you contract laryngitis and your vocal chords flare up, the sounds produced by air passing over them become distorted which can lead to your voice becoming 'hoarse' or temporarily disappearing altogether.

And some people are more at risk than others.

You can be more at risk of losing your voice if you use it more strenuously on a day-to-day basis (Getty Stock Images/ HEX)

Who's more at risk

Dr Yin Yiu tells Houston Methodist: "About 30 percent of the US working population is considered professional voice users.

"The more obvious examples are performance voice users, such as singers and actors, but professional voice users also include people whose occupation requires they talk most of the day, such as clergy, teachers, lawyers and salespeople."

But how long can this last and how can you get your voice back without having to roam the seas and battle a sea-witch called Ursula for her magical seashell locket?

You should go to the doctor if your symptoms don't improve after two weeks (Getty Stock Images/ Westend61)

How to get your voice back

Resting your voice and 'drinking plenty of fluids' should get your voice back eventually..

Laryngeal surgeon Bharat Panuganti adds to the University of Alabama at Birmingham: "There is a lot of information on the internet about teas and hydration curing voice loss. While this is good for overall throat hygiene, which could not hurt, it may not help to recover your voice faster."

Basically, you should just rest it for as long as possible.

Mayo Clinic warns: "Strenuous use of your voice during an episode of acute laryngitis can damage your vocal cords."

However, if your laryngitis doesn't improve after longer than two weeks and your voice doesn't return easily, you should make an appointment with your doctor.

And you should go to an emergency department if you experience trouble breathing, cough up any blood, have a fever or increased pain.