Usually you begin by seeing your GP (family doctor) who will examine you and may arrange further tests or x-rays. Your GP will then refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist at a hospital for expert advice and treatment.

At the hospital, the ENT doctor will take your full medical history and examine you. The doctor will feel for enlarged glands in your neck. They will examine the back of your mouth and throat (including the larynx) using a small mirror. The specialist may want to look at the larynx with a narrow, flexible telescope (a nasendoscope). The nasendoscope is passed up your nose and into the throat. This may be a bit uncomfortable, but your throat will be sprayed first, to numb the area.

If anything abnormal is seen in your throat, or if the doctor cannot see properly with the mirror or endoscope, you will need to be admitted to hospital. Then your larynx can be examined while you are under a general anaesthetic. This procedure may be done as a day patient. While you are under the anaesthetic, the doctor can usually see all parts of the larynx very well. They may do another examination with the nasendoscope (as above). If any areas of the larynx look abnormal, the doctor may remove a very small sample of the area and examine it under a microscope. This is called a biopsy.