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.
University Of California San Francisco
Clark Rosen is an Otolaryngologist in San Francisco, California. Dr. Rosen is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. His top areas of expertise are Spasmodic Dysphonia, Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, Perichondritis, Endoscopy, and Laryngectomy.
Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
Lee Akst, M.D., specializes in treating the larynx (voicebox), in particular the treatment of voice and swallowing disorders. He is a leading laryngologist in office-based procedures such as vocal fold injection augmentation, pulsed KTP laser treatment, and laryngeal botox injection. In the operating room, Dr. Akst specializes in phonosurgery for the treatment of vocal cord disease, with emphasis on voice restoration and improvement. A strong focus of his practice involves the use of pulsed angiolytic lasers, which allow for subspecialized care of laryngeal papillomas, laryngeal dysplasia, and early vocal cord cancers while preserving the quality and strength of the voice. Dr. Akst is a national leader in the field of laryngology and serves in leadership roles for the American Laryngological Association, the American Broncho-Esophagological Association, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. He lectures extensively on the treatment of laryngeal disease, teaching other physicians how to care for patients with voice and swallowing concerns. His research interests include the development of robotic laryngeal surgery, the study of voice and swallowing complaints in the elderly, and the advancement of pulsed lasers for the treatment of laryngeal diseases with a focus on leukoplakia. This provider is registered with the Florida Department of Health to perform telehealth services for patients in Florida. Dr. Akst is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. His top areas of expertise are Spasmodic Dysphonia, Laryngitis, Perichondritis, Endoscopy, and Laryngectomy.
Robert Sataloff is an Otolaryngologist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Sataloff is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia. His top areas of expertise are Spasmodic Dysphonia, Perichondritis, Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, Endoscopy, and Laryngectomy. Dr. Sataloff 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: This project will apply transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to multiple brain areas to evaluate the effects as a potential treatment for laryngeal dystonia (formerly spasmodic dysphonia).
Summary: To date, there is only limited knowledge about the distinct neural abnormalities that lead to the development of different forms of focal dystonia. The goal of this study is to dissect the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this clinical phenomenon using multi-level brain network analysis in patients with focal dystonia.
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.