SPASMODIC DYSPHONIA, VOICE 508

SYMPTOMS

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Cause :
In most cases the cause of
spasmodic dysphonia is glottis2.gifunknown. Most Medical personnel believe that Spasmodic Dysphonia is a central nervous
system disorder and a focal form of dystonia.

Dystonia disorders are thought to be due to abnormal functioning in the area of the brain called the basal ganglia.The basal ganglia are structures situated deep in the brain.

The onset is usually gradual with no obvious explanation. Researchers are investigating possible reasons why individuals suffer from Spasmodic Dysphonia including familial factors, inflammation, and/or injury that may potentially lead to central nervous system changes in laryngeal motor control, but none of these factors have been confirmed as a cause. 

Spasmodic Dysphonia may occur with other dystonias such as blepharospasm, oromandibular dystonia, or cervical dystonia. 

Symptoms of Spasmodic Dysphonia :

Symptoms of spasmodic dysphonia differ, depending on the type of the disorder. 

 

The following are characteristics of the two different types:

 

1.       Adductor Type 

       A.   Vocal symptoms

 

·         onset is characterized by nonspecific hoarseness , with associated “vocal catches”-pitch and phonation breaks that eventually evolve into complete laryngospasms

·         patients with advanced form may present with strained, squeezed staccato phonation

·         extreme phonatory effort results in little acoustic output

·         vocal symptoms are most noticeable when attempting to communicate

·         laughing, singing, non-communicative vocalizations and sometimes shouting are often unaffected

·         abrupt voice breaks

·         not intermittent- rarely goes away completely once it begins

·         patients may report a good voice for brief periods upon awakening, and when they are extremely relaxed, as when drinking alcohol

·         spectral analysis

·         abrupt voice breaks,

·         irregular wide spaced vertical striations,

·         some high-frequency noise

·         distinct well preserved formants

 

B.      Non-vocal symptoms - these symptoms may be observed as the patient struggles to speak

 

·         fatigue

·         difficulty breathing

·         muscle pain in the upper chest

·         synkinetic eye blinking

·         exaggerated chest and abdominal wall contractions

·         bulging neck muscles

·         bulging veins in the neck

 

2.    Abductor Type

 

    A.     Vocal Symptoms

·         abrupt voice breaks

·         intermittent moments of aphonia and breathiness

·         impairment of voiced/voiceless phoneme distinctions

·         transitions from a voiceless consonant to a vowel in a stressed syllable is most difficult

·         frequently unable to initiate laryngeal valving following the voiceless consonant

·         glottal-widening, abductor type laryngospasm

 

B.      Non -Vocal Symptoms

·         Breathiness is the primary non-vocal symptom

 

Audio-links : http://www.dysphonia.org/

Team contact for Voice 508 :
Karen Nix           PSINIX@aol.com