Clinical practice guideline: hoarseness (dysphonia).

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• Hoarseness (dysphonia) affects nearly one-third of the population.
• It is characterized by altered vocal quality, pitch, loudness, or vocal effort.
• This guideline applies to all age groups and clinicians managing hoarseness.

Purpose of the Study:

• Improve diagnostic accuracy for hoarseness.
• Reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics, steroids, anti-reflux medications, and imaging.
• Promote appropriate use of laryngoscopy, voice therapy, and surgery.

Main Methods:

• Developed evidence-based recommendations for hoarseness management.
• Convened a multidisciplinary panel including various medical specialties and consumers.
• Systematically reviewed evidence to formulate guideline statements.

Main Results:

• Strong recommendations against routine antibiotic prescription for hoarseness.
• Advocacy for voice therapy for patients with hoarseness impacting quality of life.
• Recommendations for larynx visualization, patient assessment, and judicious use of medications and imaging.

Conclusions:

• This guideline provides an evidence-based framework for clinical decision-making in hoarseness management.
• It is intended to assist, not replace, clinical judgment.
• It does not establish a sole protocol but offers appropriate approaches.