The Assessment Methods of Laryngeal Muscle Activity in Muscle Tension Dysphonia: A Review

Seyyedeh Maryam Khoddami,Saeed Talebian Moghadam,Farzad Izadi,Noureddin Nakhostin Ansari

doi:10.1155/2013/507397

Seyyedeh Maryam Khoddami, Saeed Talebian Moghadam + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/507397

Copy DOI

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to review the methods used for the assessment of muscular tension dysphonia (MTD). The MTD is a functional voice disorder associated with abnormal laryngeal muscle activity. Various assessment methods are available in the literature to evaluate the laryngeal hyperfunction. The case history, laryngoscopy, and palpation are clinical methods for the assessment of patients with MTD. Radiography and surface electromyography (EMG) are objective methods to provide physiological information about MTD. Recent studies show that surface EMG can be an effective tool for assessing muscular tension in MTD.

Highlights

Muscular tension dysphonia (MTD) is a common functional dysphonia manifested by excessive tension in the intrinsic and/or extrinsic laryngeal muscles
This paper aimed to review the literature on common assessment methods of measuring muscle tension in MTD to present their advantages and disadvantages and identify the best tools for practice and research
Assessment methods of MTD can be classified into two distinct groups: (1) noninstrumental methods, which do not need any equipment for examination; (2) instrumental methods, which use tools for objective diagnosis of conditions and include observation, radiography, and electromyography

Summary

Introduction

Muscular tension dysphonia (MTD) is a common functional dysphonia manifested by excessive tension in the intrinsic and/or extrinsic (para) laryngeal muscles. 10– 40% of the clients at a voice clinic have MTD [1,2,3]. The etiology of MTD is multifactorial, which leads to voice disturbance. The musculoskeletal tension is a core feature of the MTD [4,5,6,7,8]. In the presence of MTD, the tension of extrinsic muscles is altered, which moves the larynx high in the neck and disturbs the inclination of the cartilages of the larynx. The intrinsic muscles of the larynx are affected. In this way, vocal folds tension is changed and causes the voice disturbance [10]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion