Voice related quality of life after botulinum toxin injection for spasmodic dysphonia

Laryngeal Focal Dystonia (LFD) leads to a type of voice with a strained and tense quality which has a neurological origin, affecting the social-emotional realms of the individuals, and their quality of life.

Measure the voice-related quality of life of patients with Adductor LFD pre and post-treatment with Botox, injection followed by voice therapy, using the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL).

Prospective study.

Adductor 11 female patients aged between 33 and 74 years with a diagnosis of Adductor LFD were evaluated. All patients underwent a neurological evaluation. Laryngoscopy was performed with both rigid and flexible endoscopes. Speech and Language evaluation followed the Evaluation of Voice Protocol, proposed by Behlau, Pontes (1995). The American V-RQOL measure was utilized.

Statistical analysis demonstrated significant difference (p < 0.05). 81.8% of patients showed higher scores post-Botox, for the social-emotional and physical domain. In the overall V-RQOL scores 72.7% of patients showed greater scores post-treatment.

There was an improvement in the quality of life for these patients post-treatment. The V-RQOL proved to be an efficient tool to measure the treatment outcomes of LFD pre and post botulinum toxin injection.