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Botulinum toxin injections for essential voice tremor
S Hertegård1, S Granqvist, P A Lindestad
1Phoniatric Department, ENT Clinic, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology
|February 24, 2000
Summary
Botulinum injections effectively treated essential voice tremor in most patients, improving voice quality and reducing tremor. Evaluations showed significant benefits, with success rates ranging from 50% to 65%.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Essential voice tremor is a neurological disorder affecting voice production.
- Current treatment options for essential voice tremor can be limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of botulinum toxin injections in treating essential voice tremor.
- To assess patient outcomes using subjective, perceptual, and acoustic measures.
Main Methods:
- Fifteen patients diagnosed with essential voice tremor received botulinum injections.
- Treatment targeted thyroarytenoid, cricothyroid, or thyrohyoid muscles.
- Voice recordings were analyzed using subjective, perceptual, and acoustic methods.
Main Results:
- Subjective evaluations indicated a beneficial effect in 67% of patients.
- Perceptual analysis revealed a significant decrease in voice tremor during connected speech (p < .05).
- Acoustic analysis showed a significant decrease in fundamental frequency during vowel phonation (p < .01).
Conclusions:
- Botulinum toxin injections are a viable treatment for essential voice tremor.
- The treatment demonstrated success in 50% to 65% of patients, depending on evaluation method.
- Perceptual evaluations closely aligned with patient-reported outcomes.