What Could be Causing Voice Changes?

What Causes Voice Changes?

Voice changes can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'serious' to 'generally fatal'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose voice changes, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "voice changes" as a symptom. Here are two possibilities:

Larynx Cancer
Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

loss of sense of touch

poor bodily coordination

history of chewing tobacco use

reduced sense of taste

increased sensitivity to touch

low alcohol consumption

recent onset fatigue

specific muscle weakness

heaviness of the legs

not feeling injuries

low lymphocyte count

often/always feeling unusually cold

... and so on

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of voice changes:

Cause	Probability	Status
Guillain-Barre Syndrome	94%	Confirm
Larynx Cancer	67%	Possible

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

In the Mouth/Oral Symptoms section of the questionnaire, The Analyst™ will ask the following question about recent change in voice:

Within the past few years, months or weeks, has your voice changed in any way, for no apparent reason?

Possible responses:

→ No / don't know
→ A little, I think
→ Moderately - I have had a few comments about it
→ Significantly - Many have noticed it
→ Yes, it has changed almost beyond recognition

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate slight voice change, voice change or major voice change, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

The patient's voice may change because the vocal chords are affected.

Laryngeal Cancer

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