You can't talk very well because your voice has degenerated from a deep, soothing baritone to a rough, strained helium. Professions with high-stress, nonstop high-volume talking—including lawyers and teachers—are well-known producers of Hoarse Voice. So what if you were just caught raising your voice at the DMV? Don't stress; you'll snap back eventually. Anything can cause a hoarse voice, from overuse of your vocal cords to a respiratory infection to smoking. Resting your voice, drinking water, and limiting the use of anything that irritates your vocal cords can help. If the condition persists longer than a few weeks, you may have vocal nodules (see Voice 'Nodules to Bush) and need to see a speech therapist or otolaryngologist.