Spasmodic Dysphonia
Spasmodic dysphonia (or laryngeal dystonia) is a voice disorder characterized by involuntary movements or spasms of one or more muscles of the larynx during speech.
There are three types of spasmodic dysphonia (SD)
- Adductor spasmodic dysphonia
- Abductor spasmodic dysphonia
- Mixed spasmodic dysphonia
Exact cause not known as yet but certain epidemiological, genetic and neurological pathogenic factors have been listed which can act as triggering or risk factors:-
- Being female
- Being middle aged
- Having a family history of neurological diseases (e.g., tremor, dystonia, meningitis and other neurological diseases)
- Stressful events
- Upper respiratory tract infections like Sinus and throat illnesses
- Heavy voice use
- Cervical dystonia
- Childhood measles or mumps
- Pregnancy and parturition
- Sudden involuntary muscle movements or spasms cause the vocal folds to slam together and stiffen. These spasms make it difficult for the vocal folds to vibrate and produce voice.
- Words are often cut off or are difficult to start because of the muscle spasms.
- Speech may be choppy but differs from stuttering.
- The voice of an individual with adductor spasmodic dysphonia is commonly described as strained or strangled and full of effort.
- Surprisingly, the spasms are usually absent while laughing, speaking at a high pitch, or speaking while singing, but singers can experience a loss of range or the inability to produce certain notes of a scale or with projection.
- Stress makes the muscle spasms more severe.
- Sudden involuntary muscle movements or spasms cause the vocal folds to open.
- The vocal folds cannot vibrate when they are open.
- The open position of the vocal folds also allows air to escape from the lungs during speech. As a result, the voices of these individuals often sound weak, quiet and breathy or whispery.
- As with adductor spasmodic dysphonia, the spasms are often absent during activities such as laughing or singing, but singers can experience a loss of range or the inability to produce certain notes of a scale or with projection.
- This type involves both muscles that open the vocal folds and those that close them and therefore has features of both adductor and abductor spasmodic dysphonia.
- Voice therapy
- Massaging of the neck and cervical muscles
- Deep breathing exercises with chanting “OM”
Spasmodic Dysphonia is also known as "Laryngeal Dystonia‟. It is characterised by the dysfunctional vocal cords which are situated inside our voice box or Larynx. It is a rare neurological disorder and a very difficult one to diagnose at the early stages. Only when other neurological possibilities are ruled out, can a Doctor reach at the diagnosis of Spasmodic Dysphonia. The cause of this disease is not known and there is not much treatment of this condition in the modern medicine. The only temporary solution available as on date is Botox injections. That is an extremely costly affair and still doesn‟t really make the person alright. Hence it is usually not opted by the patients.
The only ray of light has been seen with Homoeopathy in the cases of Spasmodic Dysphonia. Fortunately Dr. Sanket Gupta of AKGsOVIHAMS Medical Centre has been able to treat a few cases successfully and this has made us eager to carry out our clinical research in finding cure for this so-called incurable Neurological Disorder.
Why Homoeopathy seems to work in an "incurable disease‟ must be the first question that springs to anybody‟s mind. The answer lies in the basic principle and science of Homoeopathy. The fundamental of Homoeopathic system of medicine is to maintain the body balance or homoeostasis. The constitutional Homoeopathic medicine that is specific to a specific individual aids in regaining this lost homoeostasis (during illness) and thus ultimately restores the sick to a state of perfect health and harmony.
Along with the constitutional treatment, certain other medicines are also required to prescribe for proper management of a difficult case like spasmodic dysphonia. The aim is to lessen the suffering of the ailing individual with the help of medicines that not only help the patient in relieving some of his symptoms but also do not let the disease progress or deteriorate further.
Some of the medicines that we found useful during the clinical research of Spasmodic Dysphonia are – Gelsemium, Argentum Met., Argentum Nit., Selenium, Cuprum Met., Natrum Mur., Lachesis, Lyssin, Merc. Sol., etc.
Till now we have had some wonderful results in treating this dreadful disease and hope to bring out the cure for sure.
- Speech assessment
- Laryngoscopy
- Pulmonary Function Test to rule out any causative factors in the lungs
Spasmodic Dysphonia cured with Homoeopathy by Dr. Sanket Gupta
It all started in the middle of 2015 as my colleagues where I used to work started telling me that I make a sound without even me knowing and it is very irritating through my mouth. I was trying to control myself but then I got a new job in Dubai and I left the company... my family used to tell me that it’s because of your weight and I started to reduce my weight. I was 90 kgs and I reduced to 75 kgs but even in my new company I had this problem of making noise. I could feel that I was having a breathing problem. I went to an ENT and showed him the problem and after observing me he recommended me to visit a pulmonologist (respiratory doctor). I visited a pulmonologist and he did some chest x ray and blood tests and also breathing tests. Everything was normal but my breathing test showed some signs of asthma. My doctor gave me some tabs and also inhaler. I started using it but my breathing was ok for some time but it started all over again... since my job was in sales I was not in office most of the time. Till then I had no voice problem!
One fine evening my voice changed suddenly and I could not talk properly as though someone is choking me. It looked like I was losing my voice. I went to the same pulmonologist but he was on vacation so I went to another pulmonologist and he examined and he said to continue the inhaler and told me to visit an ENT specialist. I went to an ENT and he could feel my course voice. This was somewhere in the month of April 2016. He gave me some tabs and he did an endoscopy of my nose and throat and he said everything was fine and he did not see any trouble with my throat. After using the tabs for some days my voice improved. The best part was this voice change was mostly in the night time and morning I would be fine. So I continued with inhaler and tabs for some time. Then some of my relatives suggested me to go to India and show in Manipal hospital in manipal. So again I went to a top respiratory doctor and gave him my history. He again did the X-ray, blood test, breathing test and also told me to see ENT dept. I did but everything was normal but doctor told me it is also not asthma as the symptoms are very different as I was playing sports well. He advised me to stop the inhaler for some time and see what exactly happens. At this time I was confused and did not know what to do.
My ENT in Dubai again gave me medicine for anxiety as he felt this could also be the reason. I started anxiety medicine as well but things were becoming from bad to worse... slowly my morning and evening voice was course and everybody in the office was noticing but I used to go for sales meetings and avoid them. My diet during this time was very bad as well. So when I started searching on the internet I came to know it could be a stomach problem as well like GERD... so I visited a Gastroenterologist and he also did some tests and he also said it looks like GERD... so he gave me medicines for that... after using it for some time the voice was better but again it came back... Now it was really depressing... So I decided to speak this to my manager and I told him my problem and he could understand that. Now the problem was that even by October nobody was able to diagnose what exactly is the problem? Again I went to a top ENT and he did endoscopy but the doctor said your throat is perfect maybe I should do speech therapy. I also went to a speech therapist and they told me to attend classes which were highly expensive. I started to improve my diet and started having more juices like carrot beetroot etc. and things were getting better but it was temporary.
Then I went to holistic healing Centre where they said we will place a machine on your head and scan your entire body so that we know what exactly the problem is. Even though it was expensive I thought it was worth it as at least I know what exactly is the problem... after scanning the doctor told me that I have gall bladder stone and due to that I am having this problem and gave 14 medicines to have which was highly expensive. I again went to another Gastro to check this up and he again did tests but he told me to visit an ENT which I did ...This ENT doctor told me that you may have spasmodic dysphonia. And it is incurable disease and it’s a neurological disorder. The only way is to have Botox injections every three months with a specialist doctor in India. By this time I had lost my job as well and I was feeling highly depressed. But at least now I knew what exactly the problem is. So I searched in the internet and got to know a doctor with 30yrs of experience in Bangalore who can verify if this is spasmodic dysphonia. I went to him and he confirmed it. He said only solution is Botox.
One of my relatives also gave me address of Dr Sanket Gupta in Delhi and after seeing his award for this condition I immediately met him. He advised me that there is no need for any Botox but I need to be patient for at least 6 months. This was in Feb 2017. I followed the steps of Dr. Sanket. I changed my diet, prayed more, did a lot of exercises and things changed slowly and in 6 months’ time my voice improved by 60%. I am still continuing and now in the month of Nov. 2017 I have recovered 95% and also found a job. I thank Allah for this condition that it taught me patience and hope and also to make me meet a Doctor like Dr. Sanket Gupta.
Thank you doctor once again.
SYED SALMAN
Sharjah, U.A.E
Spasmodic Dysphonia
RARE VOICE DISORDER CURED WITH HOMOEOPATHY
I am writing this to thank for getting benefits of the treatment what I have got and also to spread the awareness and information regarding a very rare and unknown disease called “Spasmodic Dyphonia (SD)” from which I was suffering.
Because this disease is very difficult to recognise so first of all I would like to give little information regarding this disease “SD”. This is a voice related problem. This is a neurological disease. I was feeling very difficult to speak. I need to put lot of effort so speak and my voice quality also got changed .It sounds like I am having cold and cough. Everybody was saying me weather I am ill. Because of the effort and strain it was creating pain also in throat. If I was speaking while laughing then sound quality was good. In the morning also sound quality was good. But as the day progresses the sound quality deteriorates. While singing also its perfectly fine. Speaking after eating something is more difficult. Tightening of throat muscles.
Now I will tell whole thing how it happened with me and how I got to know about this:
This was around last year in july 2013 when I felt that there is something wrong in my throat. Prior to this also it was happening but occasionally. But from this period it was continuous. Initially I was feeling that I am having cough/cold. So I went to ENT doctor. But after his check-up he said it’s perfectly ok. But still he gave some general antibiotics and immunity booster medicines. But after a week , problem was same. Then to cross check I went to some more good ENT doctors(2-3) .They also said it seems no cold/cough. At one of the clinic he done Laryngoscopic test also. This test is to check the movement of vocal cords in our voice box in throat. My both vocal cords was also moving ok. So this is also ruled out. As the day progresses and the problem was same so I was more tensed and I wanted to get check all possibilities. So I got my lung functioning test checked , chest x ray, thyroid test, ECG test etc.. All was ok. Now I was more worried because I knew something was wrong and I was unable to figure it out.
Then one another ENT doctor said this is due to stress and anxiety and I need some speech therapy. It seems something related so I visited a speech therapist but it also didn’t worked.
Due to this problem I was losing my confidence in day to day life. As it was difficult to speak with people so I started avoiding talking with my friends and office colleagues. I was feeling very nervous and stressful in office. In stress my voice quality deteriorates.
While all these tests I was parallely searching and studying on internet a lot. One day I came across on net about this word “Spasmodic Dyphonia”(SD). This is a neurological disease and its cause is still unknown. As I tried all things but nothing worked so I thought to try homeopathy also. I come to know about OVIHAMS clinic through net. I visited there and met Dr. Sanket Gupta. I explained him verything. We discussed about this disease SD. Frankly speaking at that time I was thinking I will not get cured here also but still I wanted to try and give a chance. I trusted on him and continued his medicines. Initially for few weeks he tried different medicines. After around 2 months I got smell of improvement in voice quality. There I got a confidence in myself. After some of adjustment and try in medicines we were coming close to disease. Now as the months progresses the quality of sound was keep on improving. I can’t tell u how much happy I was and now also.
It’s around a year completed and it’s almost cured. I am still continuing it to cure it completely and from roots. Also because along with this I am taking medicines for my hair loss.
In my study on internet I come across an article of a lady “Julie Melody” in Michigan who was also having similar problem (refer below link for article). I written her mail and she also guided very much to me.
Although in her case the cause was different. But through her I came to know a lot about this disease.
Here I am giving some internet references/links along with her article path:
- http://www.spasmodicdysphonia.
info/jmelody.html - http://www.spasmodicdysphonia.
info/ - https://www.dysphonia.org/
spasmodic-dysphonia.php
As this kind of problem is very rare and very difficult to identify in India so I hope my article may be helpful if anyone is having similar problem.
I again thank to Dr. Sanket Gupta from my deep heart for bringing my voice back. The kind of happiness I am having can’t be explained through words for him. It’s like I got a new life.
Thanks & Regards
MR. SHISHIR KUMAR
New Delhi
