Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: presentation of these patients to qualified medical professionals for treatment is scarce and even scarcer from our part of the world.The present study is aimed at identifying such factors in our population. Materials a n d MethodsA total of 48 patients meeting the inclusion criteria managed in our department with presenting complaints of hoarseness (breathiness/ vocal fatigue/increased phonatory effort/restricted pitch range) were included in this study.The patients who presented with hoarseness alone without any soreness in the throat, acute upper respiratory tract infection, or dysphagia were included in the introduction Despite having a corresponding International Classification of Diseases code, hoarseness is not a diagnosis per se, but a symptom and/or a sign of an underlying disease. 1 Hoarseness broadly encompasses various phonatory phenomena, including altered voice quality, vocal fatigue, insufficient loudness, restriction in pitch range, increased phonatory effort, breathiness, impaired singing quality, etc.It is a very common problem affecting as much as one-third of the population at some point in their lives.2 The prevalence has been reported to be higher in older individuals and females.[2][3][4] The causes for hoarseness that have been reported range from functional disorders to acute and chronic inflammations, organic disorders, such as nodules and polyps, neurological disorders, trauma, and vocal fold malignancies.1,2,5 Although hoarseness has been reported to have a significant impact on the quality of life (QOL) of the patients, there have been studies that report that a small proportion of the population suffering from hoarseness seeks medical consultation from a qualified otolaryngologist for the condition in spite of a significant self-reported subjective impact.5,6 The exact cause for not seeking medical advice by the patients has not been identified in any of the studies; however, patients who had medical insurance and were already affiliated with a primary care practice were found to be more likely to seek medical advice.5 Since hoarseness can cause social, professional, financial, and emotional consequences in professional voice users, such as teachers, the prevalence of reporting hoarseness and seeking medical consultation has been found to be significantly higher in them.7,8 However, the literature on the health-seeking behaviors and factors affecting the 1,
Source: Journal of Medical Academics
Language: English
Topic: Voice and Speech Disorders
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7166734851