Does your voice suddenly become hoarse or crackly? Could this be Spasmodic Dysphonia?

Imagine that you are talking to a friend, at a meeting, or at home, and you are very interested in something. But suddenly, without warning, your voice becomes hoarse or hoarse, and sometimes the words are broken and barely come out like a stream of air. You feel embarrassed because you cannot say what you wanted to say. After a while, your voice returns to normal. Have you had this strange experience recently? If so, this is about something important to you. In medical terms, we call this condition Spasmodic Dysphonia .

Simply put, what is Spasmodic Dysphonia?

Spasmodic Dysphonia is a condition that affects the voice. Another name for this is `(laryngeal dystonia)`. To understand this exactly, let's first take a look at how our voice is formed. Inside our throat, the part called `(larynx)`, there are two delicate tissues called `(vocal cords)` . When we speak, these two vocal cords vibrate in response to the air coming from the lungs. That vibration is what we hear outside as our voice.

However, something different happens to someone with Spasmodic Dysphonia. The muscles that control their vocal cords suddenly start to spasm, in an uncontrollable way. It's like our eyes blinking, but this happens inside the throat. These muscles can suddenly tighten or relax too much.

• If they are too tight , the vocal cords become stuck together, and the voice comes out with a strangled, tight, and hoarse quality.
• If they become too loose , air leaks between the vocal cords, making the voice weak, breathy, and muffled .

What are the main types of this condition?

Spasmodic Dysphonia can be divided into three main types. Each type affects the voice differently. To understand this clearly, see the table below.

In addition to these three types, some people may also experience vocal tremor, which makes their voice sound like it's shaking when they speak.

What could be the symptoms?

These symptoms usually begin to appear in middle age, between the ages of 30 and 60. They are not constant. Sometimes they come and go, so it is difficult to say exactly when the voice suddenly changes.

The main visible features are:

• The voice is hoarse and harsh .
• The voice becomes hoarse and harsh .
• The voice sounds weak, breathy, or muffled .
• Breaking between words and sounds when speaking.
• Feeling like your voice is trembling .

These symptoms may be exacerbated , especially when under stress , when talking on the phone, in front of a crowd, or in a noisy environment.

Why is this happening? What is the real reason for this?

Many people think this is a throat problem, but this condition actually starts in your brain, not your throat.

The basal ganglia, a part of the brain that coordinates involuntary muscle movements, are part of the body's nervous system. Spasmodic Dysphonia is a condition called dystonia. Dystonia is caused by the brain sending incorrect signals to the muscles, causing them to contract in an uncontrollable manner.

Simply put, the basal ganglia in your brain send incorrect electrical signals to the muscles that control your vocal cords. These incorrect signals cause those muscles to spasm. This is not your fault, nor is it a weakness in your throat.

Researchers are still not sure exactly why these faulty signals start to be sent. But they have found that in some cases, there may be a genetic factor . It can also occur after an accident or illness. The condition is about three times more common in women than in men.

How does a doctor diagnose this?

Diagnosing this disease is a somewhat complex process, usually requiring the assistance of a team of doctors and therapists.

1. An Otolaryngologist or ENT Surgeon: The doctor will listen carefully to how you speak. He or she will check for cracks, hoarseness, and other symptoms in your voice.

2. Videostroboscopy: This is a special test. This involves using a tiny camera that is passed through your nose to record a video of your vocal cords moving as you speak. This allows you to clearly see the vocal cords' movements and any abnormal movements.

3. Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP): This therapist helps to study in depth what the voice problems are and what their nature is.

4. A neurologist: You can seek the help of a neurologist to confirm whether these symptoms are part of another neurological disease and to further examine the condition of dystonia.

What are you doing as treatment?

The first thing to remember is that there is no cure for Spasmodic Dysphonia. But don't worry. There are very effective treatments that can help control the muscle spasms in your vocal cords and help your voice return to normal.

Let's also learn about surgery.

There are several surgical options for people with Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia (a type of vocal cord spasm). However, these are rarely performed. `Type II thyroplasty` and `SLAD-R` are two such types of surgery. These involve changing the position of the vocal cords or changing the way nerve signals travel.

But there are still different opinions about this surgery. Because the results for some people are not always the same. Therefore, before considering surgery, you should talk very carefully with your doctor about its pros and cons.

When should I see a doctor?

If your voice changes for no apparent reason and it lasts for more than two weeks, you should definitely see a doctor. It could be something as simple as laryngitis caused by a cold. But if it's not, it's important to find the cause as soon as possible.

How to live successfully with this situation?

Spasmodic Dysphonia is a lifelong condition. Symptoms usually develop gradually, reach a certain level, and remain at that level throughout life. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, symptoms may disappear for a while and then reappear.

The best way to deal with this condition is to work with your medical team to manage it. There are also things you can do yourself:

• Learn about your voice: Some people find that their symptoms are relieved by eating, talking with their head in their hands, or singing. See if there are any "hacks" that work for you.
• Take care of yourself: Fatigue and stress can make symptoms worse. So get plenty of rest and take care of your mental health.
• Seek the help of a counselor: A counselor can help you deal with the impact this condition is having on your work and social relationships.
• Talk openly with others: You may feel embarrassed or uncomfortable when your voice changes during a conversation. At such times, if you can, briefly explain your situation to others. Most people will understand.
• Join support groups: Joining support groups where others who are suffering from the same condition as you can provide you with great mental strength.