Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is a voice disorder that causes involuntary spasms or contractions of the vocal cords, interrupting speech and affecting the quality of a person’s voice. The voice may sound broken, strained, or breathy depending on the type of Spasmodic dysphonia. The two most common types of Spasmodic dysphonia are the adductor type (ADSpasmodic dysphonia), where the vocal cords close together too tightly during certain sounds, and the abductor type (ABSpasmodic dysphonia), where the vocal cords spasm open during certain sounds. Although it can start at any time during life, Spasmodic dysphonia seems to begin more often in middle-age. The disorder affects women more often than men. Onset is usually gradual with no obvious cause.
Symptoms of Spasmodic dysphonia can vary from mild to severe and may include:
Although the exact cause of Spasmodic dysphonia is unknown, evidence suggests that Spasmodic dysphonia involves an area at the base of the brain where involuntary muscle movement is regulated and is, therefore, neurological in origin. When this nervous system regulator does not work properly and produces incorrect signals, this may cause voice muscles to contract or relax more than they should or at the wrong time.
Researchers are examining different areas of the brain that may be involved, including the basal ganglia, which helps to regulate movement; the cerebellum, which helps to control balance; and the cortex, which initiates movement and recognizes sensation. There may also be a genetic relationship as genes have been identified in other forms of movement disorders known as dystonia.
There is no cure for Spasmodic dysphonia. Generally, an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist, or otolaryngologist, and a speech language pathologist will perform a comprehensive exam, including a review of the patient’s medical history and symptoms and a visualization of vocal fold movement using a special camera called a flexible laryngoscope through the nose. Pembroke Pines Spasmodic Dysphonia Treatment patients may be asked to read or repeat several phrases so the physician can assess different voice qualities (i.e., overall severity, breaks, roughness, strain, breathiness). Spasmodic dysphonia is diagnosed by listening to the specific voice changes during these speech tasks and distinguishing it from other types of hoarseness, in addition to examining the larynx.
Spasmodic Dysphonia Treatments are often focused on decreasing the spasms or by improving control of the associated symptoms. Specific treatment options depend on each patient but may include:
Botulinum toxin A injections—Botulinum toxin A (Btx A) is injected into the laryngeal muscles that control the opening (abduction) and closing (adduction) of the vocal cords. Btx A blocks nerve impulses at the muscle receptor site. This weakening of the injected muscle(s) is only temporary, varies from person to person, and is based on dosage, but the average duration of the effect is three to four months. Possible side effects are usually brief and include a breathy or whispery voice, difficulty swallowing, or pain/soreness at the site of injection. Commonly, Btx A injection to the vocal cords results in a period (approximately two months) of close-to-normal voice for many ADSpasmodic dysphonia patients. Btx A is the most reliable and thoroughly evaluated treatment for Spasmodic dysphonia.
Voice therapy—Voice therapy cannot cure Spasmodic dysphonia, but with the help of a speech language pathologist patients may be able to learn how to readjust breathing patterns, phonation, resonance, and articulation to make their voice work more efficiently and to better manage symptoms, such as breaks, strain, roughness, and breathiness. Voice therapy should incorporate individual goals, such as strategies for speaking in groups, speaking on the phone, speaking with less effort, and managing quality of life issues associated with Spasmodic dysphonia.
Surgical options—Several surgical options have been used to try to treat Spasmodic dysphonia, yet surgery for Spasmodic dysphonia remains a controversial topic. Most procedures are designed to treat ADSD. In Type II Thyroplasty surgery, the surgeon separates the vocal cords slightly to reduce the severity of spasms, which can result in a weaker or breathier voice. Another procedure, called Selective Laryngeal Adductor Denervation-Reinnervation (SLAD-R), involves cutting the nerves to the vocal cord muscles and reinnervating those muscles with a different nerve. Long-term studies have not been published on the results of these surgeries for Spasmodic dysphonia.
Note: This article was prepared in coordination with the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association.
Copyright 2021. American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. Last reviewed April 2020.
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