Research Description:

Articulatory Movements in Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia Pre and Post Treatment.

The focus of this University Scholars study is on the neurological disorder adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD). ADSD effects laryngeal motor control that resulting in voice characterized by a harsh and strained quality. There may also be compensatory actions of other structures involved in speech production. Treatment for ADSD symptoms is commonly Botulinum toxin (BOTOX) injection into vocal fold muscles, weakening them and causing a release of tension. The purpose of our study is to determine what articulatory changes may result from compensatory strategies of patients with ADSD before and after BOTOX injections. These changes were measured by analyzing kinematic characteristics of tongue movement from five subjects' productions of four distinct vowels in speech. Three specific areas of tongue movement were recorded: tongue tip, tongue blade, and the posterior tongue. It was hypothesized that the patient's compensatory actions prior to BOTOX injection would result in restricted movements of the lip and tongue in comparison to post BOTOX. Preliminary data analysis suggests that tongue movements pre BOTOX have a more constricted range of motion than post BOTOX. Thus, these findings may support the hypothesis that articulatory movements are affected by ADSD symptoms, and that following BOTOX, these movements may become less restricted.