Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in his assesment of the symptom: Hoarse.
These may include a physical examination or other medical tests.
Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing
your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information
you can share with your doctor may help them with their diagnosis.
Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
- How long have you had problems with hoarseness of the voice?
Why: to determine if acute or chronic. If hoarseness is acute it usually suggests a viral upper respiratory tract infection but laryngitis, simple strain due to occupation or rarely laryngeal diphtheria may be responsible.
- Is the hoarseness intermittent?
Why: intermittent hoarseness may suggest myasthenia gravis, urticaria (hives), occupational strain, reflux oesophagitis, tobacco and alcoholism.
- Medications?
Why: e.g. steroid inhalers may cause oropharyngeal thrush and hoarseness.
- Occupational history?
Why: to determine if overuse of the voice may be a possible cause of hoarseness e.g. singers, auctioneers.
- Cigarette smoking?
Why: to determine risk of lung and laryngeal cancer.
- Alcohol intake?
Why: alcohol abuse may increase the risk of laryngeal tumors.
Questions your doctor may ask about related symptoms:
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse
your condition. These may include:
- Weight loss?
Why: may suggest laryngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer.
- Symptoms of viral upper respiratory tract infection?
Why: e.g. tiredness, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, slight fever, cough, headache.
- Symptoms of laryngitis?
Why: e.g. often occurs in association with a viral upper respiratory tract infection, hoarse voice, barking cough, pain with swallowing.
- Symptoms of lung cancer?
Why: e.g. cough, chest pain, wheezing, blood stained sputum, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, tiredness, weight loss. May be paralysis of the vocal cords and consequent hoarseness if lung cancer is in apex of the lung.
- Symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux?
Why: e.g. burning discomfort behind the sternum (breastbone) that radiates to the throat, associated with acid reflux, aggravated by heavy meals, swallowing hot and cold fluids, stooping, lying flat and lifting and straining, more likely to occur at rest than with exertion. May be complicated by chronic throat pain, hoarseness and cough, especially on waking.
- Symptoms of laryngeal cancer?
Why: e.g. persistent hoarseness, difficulty and pain with swallowing, "lump in the throat", change in voice quality.
» Next page: Types of Hoarse
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