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Spasmodic dysphonia |
| Definition: |
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Spasmodic dysphonia involves difficulty speaking because of repetitive contraction (dystonia) of the muscles that control the vocal cords. The excessive activity of the vocal cord muscles drives the vocal cords either too close or too far apart, causing a hoarse sounding voice (known as adductor dysphonia) or a whispery, high pitched voice (abductor dysphonia), respectively. |
| Alternative Names: |
| Dysphonia - spasmodic
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Reviewed By: Alberto Espay, M.D., Department of Neurology, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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