Spastic dysphonia
Alerts and Notices
Synopsis
There are multiple potential etiologies. Onset of spastic dysphonia has been associated with a history of childhood mumps or rubella infection, recent upper respiratory infection, laryngeal damage, extensive voice use, or a family history of neurologic disease. Periods of high stress may also precede symptom onset. Although a clear link between isolated spastic dysphonia and specific genetic mutations has not been identified, genetic factors likely contribute in some cases of spastic dysphonia. In some forms of genetic generalized dystonia, spastic dysphonia is a prominent symptom.
Spastic dysphonia is a rare disorder, affecting approximately 1 per 100 000 individuals. It is more common in women, and the average age at onset is 45 years.
Codes
ICD10CM:R49.0 – Dysphonia
SNOMEDCT:
29003001 – Spastic dysphonia
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Muscle tension dysphonia – affects vowels and voiceless consonants equally, tremor not present
- Dysarthria, eg, spastic, hypokinetic, hyperkinetic, flaccid, mixed
- Vocal tremor
- Laryngospasm
- Laryngeal polyps
- Laryngeal cancer
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Psychogenic aphonia
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Therapy
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References
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Last Reviewed:01/23/2019
Last Updated:03/03/2019
Last Updated:03/03/2019