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Table 5. Examples of Pertinent Questions in the Assessment
of a Patient with Dysphonia*
Voice specific questions:
• Was the onset of your hoarseness abrupt or slowly progressive?
• Does your voice ever return to normal or is the hoarseness constant?
• Did your voice change at the time or persist after an upper respiratory tract infection?
• Do you have pain or is there effort when talking ?
• Does your voice deteriorate or fatigue with use?
• What is different about the sound of your voice?
• Do you have a difficult time getting loud or projecting ?
• Have you noticed changes in your pitch or range?
• Do you run out of air when talking ?
• Does your voice crack or break?
• Were you intubated prior to dysphonia onset?
• Did you have brain, spine, neck, or chest surgery prior to dysphonia onset?
• Did you recently take inhaled medications, antibiotics, or steroids?
• Do you need the voice for your occupation? Do you have significant daily voice use
requirements?
• Do you smoke (tobacco, vape, or use recreational drugs)?
• Does your throat feel dry?
• Have you undergone radiation therapy to the head and neck region?
• Do you have any neurological or arthritic problems?
• Did you have prior trauma (physical, emotional, or psychological) preceding the voice
change?
Symptoms
• Globus pharyngeus (persisting sensation
of lump in throat)
• Dysphagia
• Sore throat
• Chronic throat clearing
• Cough
• Odynophagia (pain with swallowing )
• Nasal drainage
• Post-nasal drainage
• Acid reflux
• Regurgitation
• Heartburn
• Hemoptysis
• Non-anginal chest pain
• Waterbrash (sudden appearance of salty
liquid in the mouth)
• Halitosis ("bad breath")
• Weight loss
• Night sweats
• Fever (>101.5° F
• Otalgia (ear pain)
• Dyspnea (difficulty breathing )
