title: Listening: the key to diagnosing spasmodic dysphonia.
abstract: Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is a focal dystonia of the larynx. Adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) involves the laryngeal adductor muscles, and symptoms of vocal roughness, staccato-like sounds, and stops in phonation. Abductor spasmodic dysphonia (ABSD) affects the laryngeal abductor muscles, resulting in a breathy or whispered voice quality and voice breaks. SD has a significant impact on the quality of life. This article discusses symptoms of SD and the standard treatment of SD.
authors.affiliation: Emory Voice Center, Dept. of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Maia N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Braden
authors.forename: Edie R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Hapner
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy