Muscle Tension Dysphonia: Experience from a Conflict Zone.

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Psychology

Background:

• Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) is a voice disorder often linked to stress.
• The Kashmiri population experiences unique psychosocial stressors that may influence MTD prevalence and severity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the frequency of stress in Kashmiri individuals diagnosed with MTD.
• To evaluate the subjective outcomes of voice therapy for MTD management.

Main Methods:

• 72 MTD patients underwent otolaryngological examination and completed questionnaires assessing perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10) and voice handicap (Voice Handicap Index-10).
• Vocal quality was assessed using the GRBAS scale before and after voice therapy.
• Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Main Results:

• MTD patients reported higher stress levels (mean PSS-10 scores of 18.6 for females, 16.65 for males) compared to healthy populations.
• Voice therapy led to a significant reduction in Voice Handicap Index-10 scores (pre-treatment mean 19.7 vs. post-treatment mean 9.73, P=0.017).
• Patients reported significant improvements in vocal quality, including reduced roughness and breathiness, and high satisfaction with therapy.

Conclusions:

• Emotional stress is a significant factor in the development and maintenance of MTD, particularly within the Kashmiri population.
• Voice therapy is an effective treatment for MTD, improving vocal function and reducing voice-related disability.
• A multidisciplinary approach involving laryngologists, speech-language pathologists, and psychologists is recommended for comprehensive MTD management.