# Loud restaurants + me = laryngitis. Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 16, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-restaurants-me-laryngitis-why/603128 "2011-11-16T16:02:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-restaurants-me-laryngitis-why/603128/1 "2011-11-16T16:02:35Z")
Too often, if I go to a restaurant with a large group – 10-20 people – I lose my voice by the end of the night. Happened again last night. Today, can’t talk. Why does this keep happening to me? (maybe once every year or 16 months.) I speak loudly enough to be heard by those immediately around me, but am not yelling or doing anything obnoxious. Any tips on how to avoid this in the future? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-restaurants-me-laryngitis-why/603128/2 "2011-11-16T16:10:33Z")
Huh. Me, too. I just accepted this as a part of life. It never occured to me you could do anything about it. I don’t have a particularly strong or loud voice, and I’m the same way - if I have to talk all night, louder than my average volume, guaranteed I’m going to lose my voice at the end of the night. You are not alone. ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-restaurants-me-laryngitis-why/603128/3 "2011-11-16T16:17:53Z")
Bah. Let’s be silent friends together then. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-restaurants-me-laryngitis-why/603128/4 "2011-11-16T17:44:40Z")
Can I join the party? I have the exact same problem. A night out at any place the least bit loud, and by the end of the night I can barely speak. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-restaurants-me-laryngitis-why/603128/5 "2011-11-16T17:53:44Z")
IANAD… You are obviously straining your voice, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time. If you aren’t doing a lot of talking normally, or you tend to have a soft voice in general, I can see how a few hours of ‘louder than normal’ talking at a restaurant, especially if you are around people who are smoking, could cause you to temporally lose your voice the next day. If it really concerns you you should see a doctor and find out if there is anything going on that you should be concerned about. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-restaurants-me-laryngitis-why/603128/6 "2011-11-16T18:39:25Z")
It’s not concerning, it’s just annoying. I have to talk for my job, and I have to talk a lot during an evening. It’s embarrassing is all. ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/loud-restaurants-me-laryngitis-why/603128/7 "2011-11-17T01:40:49Z")
Try working your voice out. It’s a muscle, just like any other, and can be strengthened.