What's the sound of a silent voice?

In the doctor's waiting room, two middle aged women sit opposite me.


One coughs and the other launches into a high speed spiel.


"D'you smoke? Is that cough from smoking. I've had a cough and cold since January and it won't go away! Just keeps coming back it does, think it's gone and then it's back gone back gone back gone all the time. Also I lose my voice, I do. Keep losing my voice all the time. Don't know what that's called though..."


It's called 'Talking too bloody much' I think to myself.  'Stop talking and your voice will come back before you know it.'