Voice disorders are commonly seen in general medical practice. In some cases voice disorders represent the presenting symptom for serious underlying disease. It is important for clinicians from internal medicine, pediatrics, and family practice to be able to identify those factors in the history or observed vocal symptoms which suggest need for referral for comprehensive voice evaluation as well as to understand the distinct but complementary roles of the specific disciplines (otolaryngology and speech-language pathology) involved in diagnosis and treatment of patients with voice disorders.