My husband isn't yet diagnosed although PCP thinks DH likely is experiencing the start of some type of dementia. From reading, I'm thinking it's possibly FTD (behavioural). For the last several months, hubby has had an on again/off again hoarse voice. It's not laryngitis but comes and goes even within a day. His voice can be fine and then it gets weaker/hoarser and then improves and then gets worse. Some weeks are better than others but it hasn't completely gone away. He's been to the dr several times and dr can't figure out what is going on. I haven't read anywhere that hoarseness can be a symptom of FTD but recently wondered if it can be a feature if there's speaking loss happening? He doesn't talk as much as he used to . . . and certainly doesn't carry on in depth conversations anymore (noticed by others as well as me). Hubby does have a couple of other medical conditions so maybe it's related to one of those conditions . . . but thought I'd ask here in case it's something that can be a part of FTD???
rachelle, my dh did not have FTD but one of his first symptoms of something wrong was hoarseness. He was tested extensively with no diagnosis. His voice would do as you describe. He used to sing in a Choir and also sang solo's at Church. His eventual dia. was Parkenism with both AD and VD. I don't know which of the dia. caused the hoarseness.
rachelle, here is what I found regarding FTD and Hoarseness. The Website is listed below. Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with. Arms around, Susan
From: Speech and Language | Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) memory.ucsf.edu/ftd/overview/biology/language/single - Similar
Speech is the verbal means of communicating. Speech consists of the following:
Articulation: How speech sounds are made Voice: The use of the vocal folds and breathing to produce sound (e.g., hoarseness, breathiness, projection) Fluency and prosody: The rhythm, intonation, stress, and related attributes of speech
Well, this is interesting. I looked up the website and also did a search on FTD and hoarseness and lo and behold, hoarseness is mentioned in a few articles. So thanks, Susan L, for sending the website. Imohr, I had to chuckle when you said your husband was a good singer. My DH enjoys singing (at least, he used to) but his singing ability was never great (a fact he freely admitted).
When our family was young and we were on road trips, we often sang together when things were getting restless in the back seat (that was pre ipod and pre DVD player days). Last summer, when just the two of us were traveling, I sang some of our favourite songs and hubby didn't join in. At church he isn't singing as much and I've put it down to the hoarseness but hadn't thought of it possibly being connected to his other symptoms. Maybe it is . . .
Rochelle....My husband who, presumably has FTD, also has an intermittent voice issue. I would describe his as a weak voice...one you would think was associated with fatigue. He recently had a group of unrelated testing done for hidden bleeding and the EENT doc found a gap in his vocal cord. He experiences no problems with it. Only sings in church, but not with a choir. That doesn't seem to be effected either. Maybe his is only fatigue.
This is the first time I've ever wished my husband had FTD. He roars, coughs extremely loudly (as if he had whooping cough), moans.. all while alone. Never gets hoarse. Never gets tired of doing it!
My husband also has FTD. Last summer his voice would become so soft I could barely hear him...it was like he was really tired or ill. Soon after he lost his ability to speak many words. When he does speak now, his voice is normal...only a few words though.
Johns voice became higher pitched. I asked him once why he was talking like that. He answered in a deep baritone "I don't know." lol..you might as well. xox cs
This is interesting. Charlie completely lost his ability to speak long before any other symptoms. His brother recently became ill with a condition that is so far undiagnosed. He went to the hospital for routine out-patient tests and went to the restroom and came out disoriented and ANGRY. Had to call security and admitted him and sedated him for several days because every time he came out of the sedation he was combative again. He is a little better now but he speaks very, very softly.