SPASMODIC DYSPHONIA

Spasmodic dysphonia is a neurological condition that affects your speech. It affects all ages and can develop at any time. Spasmodic dysphonia is a chronic (long-term) neurological speech disorder. It changes the way your voice performs and sounds when you speak. The condition may also be called spastic vocal cords or spastic dysphonia. In spasmodic dysphonia, the muscles inside the vocal fold's spasm (make sudden, involuntary movements), interfering with vocal fold vibrations. Spasmodic dysphonia may occur along with other forms of dystonia that cause repeated spasms in other parts of the body, including the eyes, face, jaw, lips, tongue, neck, arms, or legs.

In some people with spasmodic dysphonia, voice changes every few sentences or as often as every word. In severe cases, the condition can make a person difficult to understand.

TYPES OF SPASMODIC DYSPHONIA:

Adductor spasmodic dysphonia. This is the most common type. Spasms cause the vocal cords to slam together and tighten, making it difficult for them to create sounds. Voices can often sound strained or tight and break on different words.

Abductor spasmodic dysphonia. Spasms make the vocal folds stay open, so they can’t vibrate and produce sound. Voices can sound breathy and break on different words.

Mixed spasmodic dysphonia. This is a rare combination of the adductor and abductor types.

CAUSES: basal ganglia help coordinate the movements of muscles throughout the body. Recent research has found abnormalities in other regions of the brain associated with spasmodic dysphonia, including areas of the cerebral cortex that control commands to muscles and coordinate these commands with incoming sensory information.

SYMPTOMS:

YOU WILL FEEL YOUR VOICE:

• Breathy or whispered.
• Broken or jerky.
•  
• Shaky or trembling.
• Your larynx will feel Tight or strangled.

DIAGNOSIS:

• Fiberoptic nasolaryngoscopy
• MRI
• CT SCAN

HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT:

Stannum Met - In cases where a person’s voice becomes weak, and the speech gets difficult. It is also used to treat hoarseness of voice. In some cases, Stannum Met is indicated where there are frequent episodes of loss of voice.

Causticum –Causticum mostly experience hoarseness that is prominent in the morning. Causticum is also helpful in cases where people find it hard to speak due to over-use of voice (like public speakers). It also indicated in people who experience brief periods of loss of voice due to muscle spasms.

Merc sol – Merc Sol is a natural treatment for spasmodic dysphonia where the person develops a shaky voice. Speech in such cases is tremulous, difficult and impeded. Merc Sol is also indicated for broken or interrupted voice and momentary loss of voice as a result of over-straining.

Phosphorus The person needing Phosphorus usually has a weak voice and speaks with difficulty. Other features that indicate the need for phosphorus include a hoarse voice as well as loss of voice due to prolonged speaking.

Stramonium - The straining in the voice occurs due to the exertion or strain a person puts to speak a single word. Sometimes the spasm can get so intense that the person is unable to speak at all. Stramonium is also indicated in cases where a person has an interrupted or unconnected voice.

Argentum Met -history of overuse of voice as in public speakers, professional singers, etc. The symptoms that indicate the use of Argentum Met in such cases is hoarseness of voice and aphonia (inability to produce voice sound). These symptoms worsen for speaking for long hours.