Learn About Spasmodic Dysphonia
Spasmodic dysphonia is difficulty speaking due to spasms (dystonia) of the muscles that control the vocal cords.
Dysphonia - spasmodic; Speech disorder - spasmodic dysphonia
The exact cause of spasmodic dysphonia is unknown. Sometimes it is triggered by psychological stress. Most cases result from a problem in the brain and nervous system that can affect the voice. The vocal cord muscles spasm, or contract, which causes the vocal cords to get too close or too far apart while a person is using their voice, making it sound normal.
Spasmodic dysphonia often occurs between ages 30 and 50. Women are more likely to be affected than men.
Sometimes, the condition runs in the family.
The voice is usually hoarse or grating. It may waver and pause. The voice may sound strained or strangled, and it may seem as if the speaker has to use extra effort. This is known as adductor dysphonia.
Sometimes, the voice is whispery or breathy. This is known as abductor dysphonia.
The problem may go away when the person laughs, whispers, speaks in a high-pitched voice, sings, or shouts.
Some people may also have muscle tone problems in other parts of the body, such as writer's cramp.
There is no cure for spasmodic dysphonia. Treatment can only reduce the symptoms. Medicine that treats spasm of the vocal cord muscles may be tried. They appear to work in up to one half of people, at best. Some of these medicines have bothersome side effects.
Botulinum toxin (Botox) treatments may help. Botulinum toxin comes from a certain type of bacteria. Very small amounts of this toxin may be injected into the muscles around the vocal cords. This treatment will often help for 3 to 4 months.
Surgery to cut one of the nerves to the vocal cords has been used to treat spasmodic dysphonia, but it is not very effective. Other surgical treatments may improve symptoms in some people, but further evaluation is necessary.
Brain stimulation may be useful in some people.
Voice therapy and psychological counseling may help to reduce the symptoms in mild cases of spasmodic dysphonia.
The Curators Of The University Of Missouri
Mark Gilbert is an Otolaryngologist in Columbia, Missouri. Dr. Gilbert has been practicing medicine for over 16 years and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. His top areas of expertise are Spasmodic Dysphonia, Laryngeal Nerve Damage, Vocal Cord Dysfunction, Painful Swallowing, and Laryngectomy. Dr. Gilbert is currently accepting new patients.
Midwest ENT Centre
A third-generation physician, Dr. Boone began her otolaryngology practice in St. Charles County in the 1990s. Her father, Dr. James Vighi, also an otolaryngologist, practiced in the county for 25 years. A board-certified otolaryngologist, Dr. Boone is a St. Louis native who attended Chesterfield’s Parkway Central High School before achieving a degree in biomedical engineering at Northwestern University. She received her medical degree from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine where she was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and recipient of the Janet M. Glasgow Memorial Achievement Award. After medical school, Dr. Boone completed her surgical internship and her otolaryngology residency at St. Louis University. During her residency, she received several achievement awards including Cardinal Glennon department of pediatric surgery intern award given to the surgical intern who exemplifies outstanding surgical skill and patient care. She was also awarded the Department of Otolaryngology Resident Research Award given the best resident research project judged by an guest professor. During her residency, she published several articles ranging from newborn hearing screening to intraoperative nerve monitoring. A fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Dr. Boone is also a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngologic Allergy, St. Charles-Lincoln County Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Association, and the American Medical Association. Dr. Boone has been an integral part in the development of the electronic medical records implementation. She has served on the board of Allscripts for many years and is dedicated to providing the most state of art medical information transparency for her patients. Philanthropy has been an integral part of Dr. Boone’s life. She has served on several community charity boards in the past. She presently serves as a Board of Directors for Marcy’s Project and is also involved with the St. Louis Zoo Merlin Perkins Society and the St. Louis Winter Opera. Married to Dennis Boone and mother of five children and four grandchildren, Dr. Boone likes to say that she now enjoys the privilege of full-time motherhood with the challenge of a full-time medical practice. When her schedule permits, Dr. Boone enjoys working in her art studio as an artisanal soap maker and painter. Dr. Boone is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. Her top areas of expertise are Low Nasal Bridge, Nasal Septal Hematoma, Perichondritis, and Infant Hearing Loss.
Urology Of St. Louis, Inc
Joseph Bradley is an Otolaryngologist in Des Peres, Missouri. Dr. Bradley has been practicing medicine for over 17 years and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. His top areas of expertise are Laryngeal Nerve Damage, Vocal Cord Dysfunction, Spasmodic Dysphonia, Laryngectomy, and Gastrostomy. Dr. Bradley is currently accepting new patients.
Spasmodic dysphonia is a lifelong (chronic) condition. Treatment can reduce your symptoms, but the effects are often temporary.
Complications can range from not being able to say a few words to not being able to talk at all.
Contact your health care provider if you notice changes in your voice that reoccur.
There is no known way to prevent spasmodic dysphonia.
Summary: Investigators will assess the usefulness of using ultrasound in office procedures for laryngology interventions. Participants who qualify will be adults who are undergoing superior laryngeal nerve block, injection laryngoplasty, swallowing evaluation, voice evaluation and voice therapy.
Summary: The goals of this project are 1) to determine the incidence of neurological voice disorders in patients with dystonia and essential tremor undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS), 2) investigate the neuroimaging and intracranial neurophysiology correlates of voice dysfunction in these subjects, and subsequently 3) determine the effects of DBS on voice function.
Published Date: June 13, 2024
Published By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Blitzer A, Kirke DN. Neurologic disorders of the larynx. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 57.
DeVore EK, Carroll TL. Hoarseness and dysphonia. In: Scholes MA, Ramakrishnan VR, eds. ENT Secrets. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 73.
Flint PW. Throat disorders. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 397.
US Department of Health & Human Services; National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) website. Spasmodic dysphonia. www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/spasmodic-dysphonia. Updated June 18, 2020. Accessed June 28, 2024.