Salient Voice Symptoms in Primary Muscle Tension Dysphonia.

Introduction: Patients with primary muscle tension dysphonia (pMTD) commonly report symptoms of vocal effort, fatigue, discomfort, odynophonia, and aberrant vocal quality (eg, vocal strain, hoarseness). However, voice symptoms most salient to pMTD have not been identified. Furthermore, how standard vocal fatigue and vocal tract discomfort indices that capture persistent symptoms-like the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI) and Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale (VTDS)-relate to acute symptoms experienced at the time of the voice evaluation is unclear.

Laryngeal and Global Somatosensation in Primary Muscle Tension Dysphonia.

Introduction: Primary muscle tension dysphonia (pMTD) is a functional voice disorder that reduces communicative abilities and adversely impacts occupational productivity and quality of life. Patients with pMTD report increased vocal effort, fatigue, discomfort, and odynophonia. Although laryngeal and paralaryngeal muscle tension and hyperfunction are the most commonly proposed mechanisms underlying these symptoms, recent studies suggest pMTD may have more to do with the somatosensory system.