Differentiating the Symptom of Dysphonia

• Thirty percent of the adult population experience dysphonia, impacting quality of life.
• Dysphonia etiology can range from benign to serious.
• Dysphonia as a symptom of disease is frequently ignored.
• No standardized screening tests exist.
• Potential causes of dysphonia are identified.
• Nurse practitioner practice interventions and plans of care are recommended.

Dysphonia can significantly impact quality of life, yet many patients do not seek care. Determining etiology can be challenging because the symptom presentation of hoarseness does not vary in respect to diagnosis. Nurse practitioners must rely on a thorough health history and examination to distinguish possible diagnoses, which can range from benign conditions such as voice overuse to red flag diseases, such as malignancy. Factors such as tobacco and alcohol have been well documented in increasing client risk of head and neck cancers; alternatively, human papillomavirus has also been identified as an emerging cause. The purpose of this article is to review dysphonia as a symptom, identify differential diseases, and provide recommendations for practice.