Hyperfunctional + Neurological Dysphonia Flashcards
Types of hyperfunctional dysphonias
-Muscle Tension Dysphonia
-Paradoxical VF Movement (or Vocal Cord Dysfunction)
Describe Muscle Tension Dysphonia
-Excessive, atypical, abnormal laryngeal movements
-Excessive tension during phonation
-May have Antero posterior and medial squeezing of supraglottic structures
Important to note when diagnosing muscle tension dysphonia
-Often mimics the perceptual attributes of spasmatic dysphonia (especially ADSD (adductor spasmatic dysphonia)
Two types of Muscle tension dysphonia?
Describe both
- Primary MTD: vocal dysfunction in the ABSENCE of structural or neurological alteration in the larynx
- Secondary MTD: vocal dysfunction in the PRESENCE of tissue reactions/lesions
Etiology of muscle tension dysphonia
May be a primary etiology of dysphonia OR could be compensatory for a vocal fold lesion of some other disease
or from an acute or resolved insult
-Adaptation after upper respiratory infection
-GERD
-High stress levels
-Personal/emotional factors + atypical voice usage
What is the functional etiology of MTD?
Functional imbalance with NO physical or organic cause
Anatomical structure of the VFs with muscle tension dysphonia?
Normal structure and capabilities
Development of muscle tension dysphonia
-ONSET: usually very sudden, but can be gradual dependent on cause being trauma or upper respiratory infection
-COURSE: intermittent/fluctuating- may return to normal for a period of time
What makes the voice better and worse with MTD
Patients usually cant pinpoint what makes the voice better or worse
Perceptual signs and symptoms associated with muscle tension dysphonia
-If VFs come together lax= breathy
-If VFs come together tight= Harsh voice
-Inappropriate pitch level, pitch breaks
-phonatory breaks, decreased pitch range
-Vocal fatigue & effortful voice
-Hard glottal attack
-Throat and neck pain/soreness
-Mouth opening, head/jaw position abnormalities
-Hoarse, raspy, strained voice
Physiological signs of MTD
-Supraglottic compression/ constriction (lateral and AP)
-VF length visibility
-False VF involvement
-Glottal closure patterns: incomplete, bowed, large anterior or posterior chink
-Reduced mucosal wave
-Reduced periodicity and symmetry
What is the patient complaint with muscle tension dysphonia
Variable
Who is MTD predominantly seen in?
-Male children
-Adult females
Voice stimulability testing with MTD
Will demonstrate ability for normal voicing in some situation
Sustained phonation versus connected speech with MTD
Same for both
Treatment for MTD
-Indirect treatment: vocal hygiene
-Direct treatment: behavioral therapy to restructure voice
What is the goal of treatment for MTD
-Primary MTD Goal: cure, usually improving within a few seconds
-Secondary MTD Goal: may never be corrected, goal is to maintain voice or find an easier way to produce better voice
Paradoxical vocal fold motion/Vocal cord dysfunction description
-Obstruction of airway with closure of VFs during inspiration due to laryngospasms
-Expiration WNL, Inspiration severely reduced
When diagnosing paradoxical vocal fold motion, what is important?
-Diverse causes and presentation pf PVFM make diagnosis difficult to catch at evaluation
-Rule out asthma, heart problems, pulomology problems, and allergies
Paradoxical vocal fold motion is often mistaken for what diagnosis?
Asthma
Etiology of Paradoxical Vocal fold motion
Potentially:
-Psychogenic
-Upper airway sensitivity (hyperactive airway)
-Neurological problem (CNS or PNS issue)
What are the triggers for developing paradoxical vocal fold motion
-Inhaled smoke, fumes, etc.,
-Temperatures
-Activity/exercise
-Intrinsic factors: shortness of breath or stress
Development of paradoxical vocal fold motion
-ONSET: sudden
-COURSE; variable, chronic history
Perceptual signs and symptoms associated with paradoxical vocal fold motion
-Primary characteristics is NOT voice change
-Primary characteristic: Mild to severe acute respiratory distress- obstruction of airway with VF closure through inspiration
-Hallmarks: inspiratory stridor, apparent inability to inhale/SOB, occasional momentary loss of consciousness, night tightness/pain
Symptoms of paradoxical vocal fold motion may mirror what?
-Asthma attack
-Laryngospasm: patient wakes from sleep with burning sensation in throat throught to be cause by reflux & subsides quickly
Why do individuals with paradoxical vocal fold motion often end up in the ER? How does this contribute to misdiagnosis?
Because symptoms mirror asthma attack or laryngospasm, often creating panic reaction
Patients go to ER and treated symptomatically before diagnosis is made
Patients dont respond to standard asthma therapy & end up testing negatively for asthma symptoms
Who is paradoxical vocal fold motion often seen in?
-Active teens/athletes
-Females > Males; generally, under 40
Treatment for paradoxical vocal fold motion
-Voice therapy: rescue breathing, other breathing strategies to minimize symptoms, biofeedback
-Anti-reflux medication
-Intraveneous injection of diazepam (or placebo)
-Verbal support
-Hypnosis
-Combination of medical, behavioral, and psychological approaches
Describe unilateral vocal fold paralysis
-Neurogenic paralysis of arytenoids towards midline, not being able to fully adduct
Which side is usually more affected with unilateral vocal fold paralysis and why?
The left side is more affected
Extended course of the left RLN
Etiology of unilateral VF paralysis
- surgical trauma (bruising during surgery)
- Growth could be squishing the nerve
-Idiopathic (unknown, viral infection, cold, etc.)
Development of Unilateral VF paralysis
-ONSET: Sudden (trauma/surgery) or Gradual (tumor growth)
-COURSE: 8 to 12 months for nerve function to return; may worsen
-DURATION: no treatment to bring nerve functioning back, but collagen injections could improve VF contact
Perceptual signs and symptoms of unilateral VF paralysis
-Breathy
-Reduced loudness
-Shorter phonation time
-Chokes on thin liquids
-Runs out of air
What makes the voice better and worse with unilateral VF paralysis
-Improved voice: holding on to one side, turning head to one side
Patient with unilateral VF paralysis is likely to come in with what complaint?
-Run out of air quickly
Voice stimulability testing for unilateral VF paralysis
-Turning head to paralyzed side and to other side to see if it makes a difference with their voice
Treatment for unilateral VF paralysis
-Collagen injections (helps temporarily)
-Surgery- placing a shim in the middle to have the VFs permanently in the midline
-Injection of material to paralyze problematic side
-Behavioral voice therapy- best recovery when done within 6mo of onset
For improvement therapy by 1 year post-onset
Physiological signs seen with unilateral VF paralysis
-Incomplete glottal closure
-True VF asymmatry
-Aperiodicity
-Reduced mucosal wave
-Supraglottic construction (false VFs)
-Positioning of arytenoids over the paralyzed side
-One true VF not fully adducted, while unaffected VF moves to midline during phonation
Sustained phonation vs connected speech with unilateral VF paralysis
Same- both poor
Difference between essential tremor and dystonic tremor
Essential tremor: tremor at the hands, legs, head, speech mechanism with no other neurological symptoms present
Dystonic tremor- postural tremor observed in a body part affected by dystonia (neurological disorders)