Possible Conditions

Chronic Hoarseness – Non-Progressive

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Patients who suffer from chronic hoarseness (hoarseness which has been present for quite a while) that remains consistent over time often suffer from a sense of continuing laryngitis and feel hoarse consistently for months or all the time. Their voices can often be described as gravelly, froggy, rough, scratchy, coarse, croaky, weak, breathy, or as having difficulty with background noise. "No one can hear me when I'm in a restaurant," is a common complaint.

Such patients are often diagnosed with one or more of the following conditions:

• Neurological disorders that affect voice
• Medical problems (endocrine, cardiac, or pulmonary)
• Fungal infections
• Complications of medications
• Allergies
• Aging voice
• Laryngeal reflux
• Vocal fold lesions
• Vocal fold scarring
• Vocal fold paresis/paralysis
• Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD)
• Spasmodic dysphonia (SD)

Symptom Cluster Comparison Chart

More information, including associated clues, usual physician exams, typical findings, confirming exams, and areas requiring careful attention, are available in a Symptom Cluster Comparison Chart. Please click here to open the chart in a new window.

(For more information, see Voice Disorders.)

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