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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffThe most common sign of laryngitis is hoarseness. Changes in your voice can vary with the degree of infection or irritation, ranging from mild hoarseness to almost total loss of your voice. If you have chronic hoarseness, your doctor may want to listen to your voice and to examine your vocal cords, and he or she may refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist.
These techniques are sometimes used to help diagnose laryngitis:
- Laryngoscopy. Your doctor can visually examine your vocal cords in a procedure called laryngoscopy, by using a light and a tiny mirror to look into the back of your throat. Or your doctor may use fiber-optic laryngoscopy. This involves inserting a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) with a tiny camera and light through your nose or mouth and into the back of your throat. Then your doctor can watch the motion of your vocal cords as you speak.
- Biopsy. If your doctor sees a suspicious area, he or she may do a biopsy — taking a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope.
- Taking care of your voice. National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/takingcare.asp. Accessed Feb. 9, 2010.
- Lustig LR, et al. Common laryngeal disorders. In: McPhee SJ, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2010. 49th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw Hill; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2674&searchStr=laryngitis#2674. Accessed Feb. 9, 2010
- Rubin MA, et al. Pharyngitis, sinusitis, otitis, and other upper respiratory tract infections. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Online. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2883585&searchStr=laryngitis#2883585. Accessed Feb. 9, 2010.
- Knox MA. Common infections in children. In: South-Paul JE, et al. Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Family Medicine. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3031411&searchStr=croup. Accessed Feb. 9, 2010
- Mehanna HM, et al. Fungal laryngitis in immunocompetent patients. The Journal of Laryngology & Otology. 2004;118:379.
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