Hoarse voice (dysphonia)

Hoarse voice (dysphonia) — referral criteria for ENT services.

Eligibility

At least one must be met for the patient to be eligible for referral.

Clinically suspected or confirmed hoarse voice (dysphonia) with initial primary-care work-up completed

Red flags

Indicate urgent (Category 1) referral or emergency assessment.

Hoarse voice associated with difficulty in breathing or stridor

Hoarse voice associated with acute neck or laryngeal trauma

Routine referral criteria

Determine Category 2 or 3 urgency.

Persistent hoarseness, or change in voice quality, which fails to resolve in 4 weeks

Recurrent episodes of hoarseness, or altered voice, in patients with no other risk factors for malignancy