Spasmodic dysphonia is a voice disorder caused by involuntary muscle spasms in the voice box (larynx). These spasms make the vocal cords contract too much or in an uncoordinated way. When this happens, your voice might sound strained, choppy, or even “pressed” as if you’re struggling to speak. Some people with this condition may notice that their voice sounds different when they speak normally versus when they sing or hum.

Doctors diagnose this condition by listening carefully to your speech and examining your vocal cords with a tiny camera (fiberoptic laryngoscopy). They might ask you to do tasks like sustain a vowel sound or count in a specific way. These tests help them tell the difference between the common type (adductor spasmodic dysphonia) and a less common type (abductor spasmodic dysphonia), as each affects the voice in slightly different ways.

Treatment is usually done in the doctor's office by injecting a small amount of Botox into the overactive muscles. For people with adductor spasmodic dysphonia, Botox is placed into muscles that make the vocal cords come together too tightly. For those with abductor spasmodic dysphonia, the injection goes into a muscle that usually helps open the vocal cords. These injections help relax the muscles, making your speech smoother for several months. In cases where Botox isn't enough or if a patient prefers a different approach, surgery might be considered as an alternative treatment.