title: Voice related quality of life after botulinum toxin injection for spasmodic dysphonia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laryngeal Focal Dystonia (LFD) leads to a type of voice with a strained and tense quality which has a neurological origin, affecting the social-emotional realms of the individuals, and their quality of life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Measure the voice-related quality of life of patients with Adductor LFD pre and post-treatment with Botox, injection followed by voice therapy, using the Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adductor 11 female patients aged between 33 and 74 years with a diagnosis of Adductor LFD were evaluated. All patients underwent a neurological evaluation. Laryngoscopy was performed with both rigid and flexible endoscopes. Speech and Language evaluation followed the Evaluation of Voice Protocol, proposed by Behlau, Pontes (1995). The American V-RQOL measure was utilized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis demonstrated significant difference (p < 0.05). 81.8% of patients showed higher scores post-Botox, for the social-emotional and physical domain. In the overall V-RQOL scores 72.7% of patients showed greater scores post-treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was an improvement in the quality of life for these patients post-treatment. The V-RQOL proved to be an efficient tool to measure the treatment outcomes of LFD pre and post botulinum toxin injection.
authors.affiliation: Department of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Rua Luiz Fernando 47, Santa Mônica, 31530-630 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. leticianeiva@click21.com.br
authors.forename: A C C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gama
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rezende Neto
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020704:Laryngoscopes; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012984:Software; D013070:Speech Therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014831:Voice; D014834:Voice Training
chemical_list: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A