Muscle Tension Dysphonia, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

by Kenneth Kee

Overview

Muscle Tension Dysphonia is an extreme tightness or imbalance of the muscles in and around the vocal box leading to hoarseness and difficulty in using the voice.
The muscle tension dysphonia is a disorder for an imbalance in the coordination of the muscles and breathing patterns required to create voice.
This imbalance can be observed without any anatomical anomaly (primary MTD) or in the presence of an anatomical anomaly (secondary MTD).
In the case of secondary MTD, the muscle tension is thought to be the body’s natural compensatory process to adapt to the vocal injury.
Primary MTD can be related to stress and anxiety.
Recently it has been shown that under periods of stress the muscles that control the voice box become tense.
Periods of prolonged muscle tension in the voice box can result in an in-coordination of the vocal control system.
Muscle Tension Dysphonia often happens after an upper respiratory illness, such the cold or flu.
In the upper respiratory tract infection, the muscular imbalance is not believed to be connected to stress and anxiety.
Any stressful life events (e.g. the loss of a loved one) can cause muscle tension dysphonia as well.
The causes of Muscle Tension Dysphonia are:
1. Direct problem with the use of vocal technique
2. Voice muscle habitual misuse
3. Acid reflux from the stomach or laryngopharyngeal reflux
4. Underlying inflammation of the vocal cord
5. Growth on the vocal cord
6. Neurological disorder affecting the vocal cord
Frequent Symptoms Linked with MTD
1. Hoarse voice
a. Unreliable voice
b. Low, gravely voice
c. Voice breaks
d. Hoarse and rough quality
2. Strained voice
a. Airy or breathy voice
b. Inability to sing
c. Extra force needed for loud voice
d. Vocal symptoms worsen with stress
e. Inconsistent voice
3. Pain or sore throat when talking
4. Vocal fatigue easily
5. Difficulty controlling pitch
Diagnosis:
1. A history of how the voice problem began and an evaluation of voice and speaking behaviors are steps in the diagnosis of primary MTD
2. Speech-Language Pathology Evaluation
Evaluation by a speech-language pathologist is very essential in the diagnosis of muscle tension dysphonia.
Acoustic and aerodynamic measurements are also priceless assessment tools to find out the normal voice and breathing behaviors.
3. Laryngoscopy and Stroboscopy
It is a diagnosis of exclusion; careful examination of the vocal folds is required to exclude anatomical abnormalities.
Flexible laryngoscopy permits the doctors to observe some muscular patterns during speaking.
Videostroboscopy can help to view the vocal cords and permit the examiner to evaluate the mucosal wave as a marker for vocal fold vibration.
4. CT or MRI Scanning of skull from nose to vocal box to look for underlying causes.
5. Investigation for Other Linked Abnormalities
The diagnostic process should also direct on looking for important linked factors, such as:
a. Laryngopharyngeal reflux
b. Allergies
c. Side effects of medications (e.g., diuretics and antihistamines)
d. Hormonal Imbalance
Treatment:
Speech therapy is the best standard treatment for primary MTD.
Speech therapy assists the patient to improve vocal symptoms through exercises and techniques geared at improving the way the body (muscles, lungs etc.) work together to create voice:
2. Behavioral Counseling
In cases of primary MTD linked with stress or anxiety, it can be very useful for the patient to work with a counselor to decrease stress besides completing voice therapy.
3. Medicine to treat acid laryngopharyngeal reflux

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Muscle Tension Dysphonia
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Laryngitis
Chapter 8 Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
Epilogue

Product Details

BN ID:	2940154429211
Publisher:	Kenneth Kee
Publication date:	06/23/2017
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
File size:	118 KB

About the Author

Medical doctor since 1972. Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009. Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993. Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 65. However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. He first started writing free blogs on medical conditions seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com. His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiolographical account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com. This autobiolographical account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Conditions” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com. From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 550 amazon kindle books and some into Smashwords.com eBooks. He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books. He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures. Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple. For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients. The later books go into more details of medical conditions. The first chapter of all my ebooks is always taken from my blog A Simple Guide to Medical Conditions which was started in 2007 as a simple educational help to my patients on my first blog http://kennethkee.blogspot.com. The medical condition was described simply and direct to the point. Because the simple guide as taken from the blog was described as too simple, I have increased the other chapters to include more detailed description of the illness, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. As a result there are the complaints by some readers of constant repetitions of the same contents but in detail and fairly up to date. He has published 550 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter. The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health conditions and not meant as textbooks. He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke. His clinic is now relocated to the Bouna Vista Community Centre. The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall. He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) starting with the Apple computer and going to PC. All the PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core. The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive. He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance. His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner. The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned. This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale. Dr Kee is the author of: "A Family Doctor's Tale" "Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine" "Case Notes From A Family Doctor"