Symptoms and findings of laryngopharyngeal reflux.

Even though the symptoms and findings of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) have been described, the clinical diagnosis is sometimes elusive. Symptoms can occur in the absence of conclusive laryngeal physical findings, and they can be nonspecific. For example, dysphonia can be caused not only by LPR, but also by neoplasia and by geriatric, neurologic, and behavioral disorders. The clinician must realize that the diagnosis of LPR is based on a combination of factors, including symptoms, laryngeal findings, and diagnostic test results.