Spasmodic Dysphonia: Description of the Disease and Associated Neurologic Disorders

Summary

Introduction: Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is a problem that affects speech and vocalization, one of the most devastating disorders of oral communication. It is characterized by vocal quality tensaestrangulada, harshly and / or interspersed with abrupt vocal attack and a great tension in the vocal tract. The etiology of spasmodic dysphonia is unclear. Some authors point to psychogenic causes, neurological or even unknown.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of muscular dystonias and other neurological symptoms in patients with ED.

Method: A retrospective study of 10 cases with diagnosis of ED for symptoms and neurological disorders associated.

Results: There was a significant predominance of the disease in females (9:1). The average age of onset of symptoms was 32 years, ranging between 14 and 60 years. The mean disease duration was 10 years. Among the patients, 87.5% had a diagnosis of disorders of movement made by a neurologist, including orofacial dystonias (50%), essential tremor (50%) and spastic paraparesis (12%).

Conclusion: The presence of movement disorders followed almost all cases of spasmodic dysphonia. More studies are needed to clarify the pathophysiological basis of disease.

Resumo

Introdução: A disfonia espasmódica (DE) é um problema que afeta a fala e a vocalização, sendo uma das mais devastadoras desordens da comunicação oral. É caracterizada por qualidade vocal tensaestrangulada, áspera e/ou entrecortada, com ataque vocal brusco e grande tensão no aparelho fonador. A etiologia da disfonia espasmódica não é clara. Alguns autores apontam para causas psicogênicas, neurológicas ou até desconhecidas.

Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de distonias musculares e outros sintomas neurológicos nos pacientes com diagnóstico de disfonia espasmódica.

Método: Estudo retrospectivo de 10 casos com diagnóstico de disfonia espasmódica quanto a sintomas e desordens neurológicas associadas.

Resultados: Houve franca predominância da doença no sexo feminino (9:1). A idade média do início dos sintomas foi de 32 anos, variando entre 14 e 60 anos. O tempo médio de evolução da doença foi de 10 anos. Dos pacientes avaliados, 87,5% tinham diagnóstico de distúrbios do movimento feito por neurologista, entre eles distonias orofacias (50%), tremor essencial (50%) e paraparesia espástica (12%).

Conclusão: A presença de desordens do movimento acompanhou quase que a totalidade os casos de disfonia espasmódica. Mais estudos são necessários a fim de esclarecer a base fisiopatológica da doença.

Keywords

neuromuscular diseases - voice disorders - dysphonia

Palavras-chave

doenças neuromusculares - distúrbios da voz - disfonia

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