I am making this page about spasmodic dysphonia because after I was diagnosed with this voice problem in 2007, I wanted to share my story and tell people about this relatively unknown condition. I also wanted other DS sufferers to know that they are not alone with this problem and that they can visit my forum for people with spasmodic dysphonia to share insights, treatments, exercises, etc.

Explanation of the condition and my history

Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is a voice disorder that involves involuntary “spasms” of the vocal cords during speech, causing interruptions and affecting voice quality. SD can cause the voice to break or have a strained, strained, or strangled quality.

There are three types of spasmodic dysphonia: adductor, abductor, and mixed.

Adductor – Involves sudden involuntary muscle movements or spasms that cause the vocal cords (or vocal cords) to hit and stiffen. These spasms make it difficult for the vocal cords to vibrate and produce the voice. Words are often cut off or difficult to start due to muscle spasms. Speak breathy and sound hoarse. The voice is commonly described as strained or strangled. Spasms are usually absent when whispering, laughing, singing, talking in a loud tone, or talking while breathing. Stress, however, often makes muscle spasms more severe.

Adductor – Involves sudden involuntary muscle movements or spasms that cause the vocal cords to open during speech. The open position of the vocal cords allows air to escape from the lungs during speech. As a result, the voice sounds weak, quiet, breathy, and whispery. As with adductor spasmodic dysphonia, the spasms are usually absent during activities such as laughing or singing.

and finally mixed – This involves both the muscles that open the vocal cords and the muscles that close them and therefore has characteristics of both adductor and abductor spasmodic dysphonia.

The exact cause of spasmodic dysphonia is unknown and it can affect anyone, although it seems that more women are affected than men. Dystonia is the general neurological term for a variety of problems characterized by excessive muscle contraction with associated abnormal movements and postures.

Dystonia disorders are thought to be due to abnormal functioning in the area of ​​the brain called the basal ganglia. The basal ganglia, which are structures located deep in the brain that help coordinate the movements of muscles throughout the body.

There is currently no known cure for spasmodic dysphonia, and currently available treatments only help temporarily relieve the symptoms of this voice disorder. Voice therapy can reduce some symptoms, especially in mild cases. The treatment currently available is injections of very small amounts of botulinum toxin (Botox) directly into the affected muscles of the larynx. The toxin weakens the muscles by blocking the nerve impulse to the muscle. The injections generally improve the voice for a period of three to four months, after which the voice symptoms gradually return. Reinjections are necessary every 3-6 months indefinitely to maintain a good speaking voice. Initial side effects that usually go away after a few days to a few weeks may include a temporary weak, breathy voice and/or occasional difficulty swallowing.

I was officially diagnosed by a doctor in March 2007, but I first noticed a problem with my voice around 2002. I worked a job where I was on the phone constantly, all day every day, and had been doing so since 1998. I started to notice that the strange word in my sentences started to sound funny and I realized that if I repeated that particular word, no matter how hard I tried to make it sound ‘normal’, it wouldn’t. At first, I just ignored it and struggled with my speech. But then people started noticing it, which made me even more aware of this problem.

Over the next few years it was a downward spiral from there and the spasms and breaks in my speech became more frequent, hardly ever another word. I dreaded having to talk to people and hated talking on the phone as it seemed to make the condition worse, my throat muscles tightened up so much it felt like I was being strangled by myself! I had to literally force and push the words, it was extremely exhausting having to put all this effort into speaking and at the end of the day I was exhausted.

I started doing some research on the internet to find out what this problem was and I heard a clip of a DS patient, I instantly knew this was what I had. I first visited a speech therapist and had a few sessions with her, but the exercises didn’t seem to help my voice initially. She recommended speaking with the ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) doctor at the local hospital, as he was a spasmodic dysphonia specialist.

So, next, I was referred to this ENT doctor who inspected my throat using fiberoptic nasolaryngoscopy, a method in which a small lighted tube is passed through the nose and down the throat, a useful tool that allowed him to assess movement of my vocal cords during speech. He immediately confirmed SD and explained that the only current treatment was botox injections into my vocal cords every three months. I tried this method for about a year, but I didn’t get the desired results, so I don’t have them anymore.

At the moment I’m just practicing with different exercises and my speech seems to have improved a bit over the last year so I’ll keep persevering. I have read and talked to some people who have largely overcome DS using various techniques, which are a great inspiration and give me hope that one day I too can overcome DS.

I found that DS is quite a life changing condition, most people take their voice for granted and losing that privilege is something that is hard to come to terms with. So I decided to create a forum for other DS sufferers so we can chat about it there, get support/advice from each other, and generally talk to someone else who understands and is in the same boat.

I hope this forum is a lifesaver for other DS sufferers, we can all fight this battle together. It can be found here Spasmodic Dysphonia Forum