My voice already hurts. What should I do?

The Voice Care Network advises that if you do not have an infection but your voice becomes hoarse, you lose your voice, it seems weak or tired, or you have a tickly cough that will not go away and it continues for 3 weeks, see your GP. If it continues for 6 weeks, speech and language therapists suggest that you seek specialist advice.

• Explain to your GP what job you do, how much you use your voice, say if you are under pressure. A new system of GP medical statements was introduced in April 2010. The new medical statements (now known as fit notes rather than sick notes) can either indicate that a person is 'not fit for work' or that they 'may be fit for work taking account of the following advice'. The GP can recommend a phased return to work, altered hours, amended duties or workplace adaptations. (For more information, please view our dealing with doctors section).
• Inform your line manager and record your condition in the accident book, especially if you need to take time off work.
• Make an appointment to see your work's occupational health department, if there is one.
• Whatever your job, you are likely to need at least a short break involving different duties.
• Contact your safety rep, if you have one. Your union rep can support you in meetings with management about possible adjustments to your work routines.
•  You may be able to claim compensation if you develop voice strain. The UK government has recognised occupational voice loss as an injury qualifying for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit in teachers and other workers who have to speak up to earn a living. However, workers have had to prove they suffered an "accident". The scheme only pays out for "accidents" or in relation to a prescribed list of occupational diseases, which does not include voice loss. In 2010, Joyce Walters, an English teacher employed by Hillingdon Council, was reported to  have reached an out-of-court settlement of £156,000 after suffering permanent damage to her vocal chords from being forced to raise her voice to be heard over noise outside her class room.