Spasmodic Dysphonia: Highlights

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Key Glossary Terms

Spasmodic Dysphonia (SD)
A voice disorder resulting from involuntary movements (spasms) of the voice box muscles

Dystonia
A nervous system problem that causes involuntary movement; dystonia is not a psychological problem; SD is a type of dystonia

Adductor SD (Ad-SD)
Spasms in muscles that close vocal folds, which interrupt speech and cause strained or strangled voice breaks

Abductor SD (Ab-SD)
Spasms in muscles that open vocal folds, which interrupt speech and cause breathy or soundless voice breaks

Glossary

Related Experiences

43-year-old teacher and musician describes:

• Living with spasmodic dysphonia and injections of Botulinum toxin-A treatment (620KB)

Personal Experiences

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

• 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.

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

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.

In almost every case of spasmodic dysphonia, symptoms can be improved with treatment.