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Clinical aspects of spasmodic dysphonia
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|April 1, 1978
Summary
Spasmodic dysphonia causes a strained, harsh voice and speech difficulties in most patients. This neurological disorder may involve focal dystonia of laryngeal muscles, with some cases benefiting from recurrent laryngeal nerve division.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
- Speech-Language Pathology
Background:
- Spasmodic dysphonia is a voice disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions in the larynx.
- Its precise etiology and neurological underpinnings are not fully understood.
- Clinical presentations can vary, impacting speech intelligibility and quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical features of spasmodic dysphonia in a cohort of patients.
- To explore potential neurological associations and underlying mechanisms.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of surgical intervention.
Main Methods:
- Clinical case series describing 12 patients with spasmodic dysphonia.
- Detailed assessment of voice and speech characteristics.
- Review of associated neurological conditions and treatment outcomes.
Main Results:
- Eleven patients presented with a strained, harsh, tight, and tremulous voice, low in volume and pitch, with speech interruptions and facial grimacing.
- The twelfth patient exhibited breathiness and intermittent aphonia, associated with familial tremor.
- Associated neurological conditions included idiopathic torsion dystonia, blepharospasm, and postural tremor.
Conclusions:
- Spasmodic dysphonia is likely a focal dystonia of the laryngeal musculature.
- The observed neurological associations support a central nervous system origin.
- Surgical division of the recurrent laryngeal nerve offers symptomatic benefit in selected cases.