Spasmodic Dysphonia: Highlights
In Brief
Spasmodic dysphonia is a voice disorder resulting from involuntary
movements (or spasms) of the voice box muscles. These spasms interrupt
normal voice (dysphonia) in "abrupt spurts" with a strained, strangled
voice, with breathy, soundless voice, or with a mixture of both.
- Spasmodic: spasms or involuntary movements
- Dysphonia: abnormal voice
A Neurological Disease
- SD is a type of dystonia, a disorder of the
central nervous system that causes involuntary movement of the vocal
folds during voice production.
- SD is not a psychiatric or psychological disease.
- Swallowing and breathing, the other important functions of the voice box, are almost never affected.
Three Types of Spasmodic Dysphonia
| Type |
What Happens |
How the Voice Sounds |
Adductor SD (80% to 95% of cases) |
Vocal folds come together (close) tightly at the wrong time during speech, making it difficult to produce voice |
Strained, strangled breaks while speaking |
Abductor SDM |
Vocal folds move apart (open) at the wrong time during speech, causing air leaks |
Breathy or soundless breaks while speaking |
Mixed SD |
Combination of abductor and adductor SD |
Sometimes strained, strangled breaks; sometimes breathy or soundless breaks |
Unknown Cause, but Treatment Can Improve Voice Problem
For spasmodic dysphonia, like all dystonias:
- The cause is unknown
- There is no specific test for diagnosis
- There is no known cure–but treatment can and does improve symptoms
Mainstay of Treatment
Botulinum toxin injections into muscles of the voice box can
alleviate symptoms – although relief is only temporary. Treatments are
usually repeated approximately every three months.
Outlook on Treatment
In almost every case of spasmodic dysphonia, symptoms can be improved with treatment. |
