Clinical Characteristics of Voice, Speech, and Swallowing Disorders in Oromandibular Dystonia.
To better define the clinical characteristics of idiopathic oromandibular dystonia, we studied voice, speech, and swallowing disorders and their impact on activities of daily living.



Fourteen consecutive patients with idiopathic oromandibular dystonia and 14 matched, healthy control subjects were included in the study.



Dysarthria was the most common disorder and its characteristics varied from one patient to another. However, we frequently observed a hyperkinetic, dysarthric profile characterized by imprecise consonants, a rough voice, changes in intensity, and hypernasality. Dysphagia appeared to be slightly less frequent and less disabling than dysarthria. Most patients had difficulty swallowing solids, and the oral phase was particularly problematic. Dysarthria and dysphagia affected activities of daily living in general and the psychological/emotional domain in particular.



The characteristics of dysarthria in oromandibular dystonia vary significantly from one patient to another due to differences in the set of affected muscles, so each patient should receive a personalized rehabilitation program. Dysarthria was the most prominent symptom, although spasmodic dysphonia was more frequent than expected. Further laboratory-based studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms and consequences of dysphagia in oromandibular dystonia.
Lille University Medical Center, FranceInstitut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 1172, Lille, France.
Alexandre
A
Kreisler
Lille University Medical Center, France.
Anne-Caroline
AC
Verpraet
Lille University Medical Center, France.
Solène
S
Veit
Lille University Medical Center, France.
Odile
O
Pennel-Ployart
Lille University, France.
Hélène
H
Béhal
Lille University, France.
Alain
A
Duhamel
Lille University Medical Center, FranceInstitut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 1172, Lille, France.
Alain
A
Destée
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003679:Deglutition; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004421:Dystonia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D013060:Speech; D014831:Voice; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*