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Graphics and information is public
domain and copied from the
National Institute on Deafness and Other
Communication Disorders
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/
National Institutes of Health
31 Center Drive, MSC 2320
Bethesda, MD USA 20892-2320
E-mail: nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov
domain and copied from the
National Institute on Deafness and Other
Communication Disorders
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/
National Institutes of Health
31 Center Drive, MSC 2320
Bethesda, MD USA 20892-2320
E-mail: nidcdinfo@nidcd.nih.gov
What is spasmodic dysphonia?
Spasmodic dysphonia is a neurological disorder
affecting the voice muscles in the larynx, or voice box.
When we speak, air from the lungs is pushed between
two elastic structures—called vocal folds or vocal
cords—with sufficient pressure to cause them to
vibrate, producing voice (see figure). In spasmodic
dysphonia, the muscles inside the vocal folds
experience sudden involuntary movements—called
spasms—which interfere with the ability of the folds to
vibrate and produce voice.
Spasmodic dysphonia causes voice breaks and can
give the voice a tight, strained quality. People with
spasmodic dysphonia may have occasional breaks in
their voice that occur once every few sentences.
Usually, however, the disorder is more severe and
spasms may occur on every other word, making a
person’s speech very difficult for others to understand.
At first, symptoms may be mild and occur only
occasionally, but they may worsen and become more
frequent over time. Spasmodic dysphonia is a chronic
condition that continues throughout a person’s life.
Spasmodic dysphonia can affect anyone. It is a rare
disorder, occurring in roughly one to four people per
100,000 people. The first signs of spasmodic dysphonia
are found most often in people between 30 and 50
years of age. It affects women more than men.
Spasmodic dysphonia is a neurological disorder
affecting the voice muscles in the larynx, or voice box.
When we speak, air from the lungs is pushed between
two elastic structures—called vocal folds or vocal
cords—with sufficient pressure to cause them to
vibrate, producing voice (see figure). In spasmodic
dysphonia, the muscles inside the vocal folds
experience sudden involuntary movements—called
spasms—which interfere with the ability of the folds to
vibrate and produce voice.
Spasmodic dysphonia causes voice breaks and can
give the voice a tight, strained quality. People with
spasmodic dysphonia may have occasional breaks in
their voice that occur once every few sentences.
Usually, however, the disorder is more severe and
spasms may occur on every other word, making a
person’s speech very difficult for others to understand.
At first, symptoms may be mild and occur only
occasionally, but they may worsen and become more
frequent over time. Spasmodic dysphonia is a chronic
condition that continues throughout a person’s life.
Spasmodic dysphonia can affect anyone. It is a rare
disorder, occurring in roughly one to four people per
100,000 people. The first signs of spasmodic dysphonia
are found most often in people between 30 and 50
years of age. It affects women more than men.
What is dysphagia?
People with dysphagia have difficulty
swallowing and may even experience pain while
swallowing (odynophagia). Some people may be
completely unable to swallow or may have
trouble safely swallowing liquids, foods, or
saliva. When that happens, eating becomes a
challenge. Often, dysphagia makes it difficult to
take in enough calories and fluids to nourish the
body and can lead to additional serious medical
problems.
How do we swallow?
Swallowing is a complex process. Some 50
pairs of muscles and many nerves work to
receive food into the mouth, prepare it, and
move it from the mouth to the stomach. This
happens in three stages. During the first stage,
called the oral phase, the tongue collects the
food or liquid, making it ready for swallowing.
The tongue and jaw move solid food around in
the mouth so it can be chewed. Chewing makes
solid food the right size and texture to swallow
by mixing the food with saliva. Saliva softens
and moistens the food to make swallowing
easier. Normally, the only solid we swallow
without chewing is in the form of a pill or caplet.
Everything else that we swallow is in the form of
a liquid, a puree, or a chewed solid.
The second stage begins when the tongue
pushes the food or liquid to the back of the
mouth. This triggers a swallowing response that
passes the food through the pharynx, or throat
(see figure). During this phase, called the
pharyngeal phase, the larynx (voice box) closes
tightly and breathing stops to prevent food or
liquid from entering the airway and lungs.
The third stage begins when food or liquid
enters the esophagus, the tube that carries food
and liquid to the stomach. The passage through
the esophagus, called the esophageal phase,
usually occurs in about three seconds,
depending on the texture or consistency of the
food, but can take slightly longer in some cases,
such as when swallowing a pill.
People with dysphagia have difficulty
swallowing and may even experience pain while
swallowing (odynophagia). Some people may be
completely unable to swallow or may have
trouble safely swallowing liquids, foods, or
saliva. When that happens, eating becomes a
challenge. Often, dysphagia makes it difficult to
take in enough calories and fluids to nourish the
body and can lead to additional serious medical
problems.
How do we swallow?
Swallowing is a complex process. Some 50
pairs of muscles and many nerves work to
receive food into the mouth, prepare it, and
move it from the mouth to the stomach. This
happens in three stages. During the first stage,
called the oral phase, the tongue collects the
food or liquid, making it ready for swallowing.
The tongue and jaw move solid food around in
the mouth so it can be chewed. Chewing makes
solid food the right size and texture to swallow
by mixing the food with saliva. Saliva softens
and moistens the food to make swallowing
easier. Normally, the only solid we swallow
without chewing is in the form of a pill or caplet.
Everything else that we swallow is in the form of
a liquid, a puree, or a chewed solid.
The second stage begins when the tongue
pushes the food or liquid to the back of the
mouth. This triggers a swallowing response that
passes the food through the pharynx, or throat
(see figure). During this phase, called the
pharyngeal phase, the larynx (voice box) closes
tightly and breathing stops to prevent food or
liquid from entering the airway and lungs.
The third stage begins when food or liquid
enters the esophagus, the tube that carries food
and liquid to the stomach. The passage through
the esophagus, called the esophageal phase,
usually occurs in about three seconds,
depending on the texture or consistency of the
food, but can take slightly longer in some cases,
such as when swallowing a pill.
When a person has trouble swallowing,
tell your doctor.
A barium swallow test to determine the need for
Speech Therapy. Water and other liquids may need
to be thickened and some foods may need to be pureed,
to prevent choking and
aspiration (food or liquid landing in the lung.)
tell your doctor.
A barium swallow test to determine the need for
Speech Therapy. Water and other liquids may need
to be thickened and some foods may need to be pureed,
to prevent choking and
aspiration (food or liquid landing in the lung.)
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