Hoarseness – causes and treatments

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Speech and Hearing Sciences

Background:

• Hoarseness (dysphonia) is a common symptom prompting medical consultation in approximately 1% of patients.
• Causes are diverse, including laryngitis, functional dysphonia, vocal cord tumors, paresis, and aging voice, with internal diseases being rare.
• Acute laryngitis (42%) and functional dysphonia (30%) are the most frequent causes identified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of the various causes of hoarseness.
• To outline diagnostic approaches for identifying the underlying etiology of dysphonia.
• To discuss available treatment options tailored to specific causes of hoarseness.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of causes, diagnosis, and treatment of hoarseness.
• Analysis of etiological distribution based on reported percentages.
• Emphasis on the diagnostic importance of laryngoscopy for persistent symptoms.

Main Results:

• Laryngitis (acute and chronic) and functional dysphonia constitute the majority of hoarseness causes.
• Benign and malignant tumors, vocal cord paresis, aging voice, and psychogenic factors represent less common etiologies.
• Internal diseases are identified as a rare cause of hoarseness.

Conclusions:

• Hoarseness has multifactorial origins, necessitating accurate diagnosis for effective management.
• Persistent hoarseness, defined as lasting over three weeks, warrants serious attention and laryngoscopic examination.
• Treatment strategies are cause-dependent, ranging from medication and voice therapy to surgical interventions.