# I have the flu. Why is my voice incredibly deep, raspy, and froggy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 15, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-flu-why-is-my-voice-incredibly-deep-raspy-and-froggy/650393 "2013-02-15T15:15:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-flu-why-is-my-voice-incredibly-deep-raspy-and-froggy/650393/1 "2013-02-15T15:15:25Z")
See subject. I’ve heard of “vocal fry,” and heard it, as an identifier or affectation of speech (a sound file would be great here, I’ll look around for one). But the deep pitch and practically hearing individual strumming of piano bass strings is really something. Also, any expressions of sympathy or get-well wishes would be gladly accepted… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-flu-why-is-my-voice-incredibly-deep-raspy-and-froggy/650393/2 "2013-02-15T16:48:50Z")
Ooo, sorry to hear you are under the weather and turning baritone … I have no idea why it happens, but it has happened to me previously. Although right now I am just barely over a basic rhinovirus, and I sound like Fran Drescher in The Beautician and the Beast … _sigh_ :smack: I hate the strange occasional bursts of that sort of odd shrillness. In retrospect, I think my odd shrillness might be because of a droplet of mucous stuck to a vocal cord inhibiting the vibration, so perhaps that is how you are getting hoarse? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-flu-why-is-my-voice-incredibly-deep-raspy-and-froggy/650393/3 "2013-02-15T21:54:25Z")
Many respiratory infections affect the larynx (vocal cords) and cause inflammation, making them get thicker (laryngitis). This causes pitch to drop for the same reason as the piano bass strings you mentioned. It also causes raspy hoarseness, and in extreme cases, they are so swollen they won’t move at all. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-flu-why-is-my-voice-incredibly-deep-raspy-and-froggy/650393/4 "2013-02-16T16:34:00Z")
[The Vocal Fry Epidemic](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsE5mysfZsY&feature=youtube_gdata_player). An instructive video. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-flu-why-is-my-voice-incredibly-deep-raspy-and-froggy/650393/5 "2013-02-16T16:35:56Z")
I’ve got it too! Came down with it on Wednesday, still feeling like a wreck. Don’t seem to be getting the sweats so much now so I must be on the homeward stretch. Hope you are feeling better soon! Keep the fluids up. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-flu-why-is-my-voice-incredibly-deep-raspy-and-froggy/650393/6 "2013-02-16T23:01:18Z")
I normally have a low basso voice, and you wouldn’t believe what it sounds like when I’m sick. I’ve always attributed it to a coating of mucus on the vocal folds (cords). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-the-flu-why-is-my-voice-incredibly-deep-raspy-and-froggy/650393/7 "2013-02-16T23:09:18Z")
Count me in. The students said I sounded really strange the one day I went to work this week. My normal tenor turned into a baritone. I hate being sick.