For over 100 years it has been universally assumed in the literature that spastic dysphonia is a functional or psychoneurotic voice disorder. In the last few years, new data have accumulated that support the concept that spastic dysphonia is caused by an organic, rather than a functional, abnormality. Histologic examination of segments of the recurrent laryngeal nerve removed from patients with spastic dysphonia has revealed myelin abnormalities in 30% of the nerves examined. Neurologic examinations indicated brain stem or basal ganglia disturbances in some patients who had no apparent nerve disease.
RobeEBrumlikJMooreP: A study of spastic dysphonia (neurologic and electroencephalographic abnormalities). Laryngoscope70: 219–245, 1960.
7.
AronsonAEBrownJRLitinEM: Spastic dysphonia: II. Comparison with essential (voice) tremor and other neurologic and psychogenic dysphonias. J Speech Hear Disord3: 219–231, 1968.
8.
McCallGNSkolnickMLBrewerDW: A preliminary report of some atypical movement patterns in the tongue, palate, hypopharynx and larynx of patients with spasmodic dysphonia. J Speech Hear Disord36: 466–470, 1971.
MarsdenCDHarrisonMJG: Idiopathic torsion dystonia (dystonia musculorum deformans): A review of 42 patients. Brain97: 793–810, 1974.
13.
CouchJR: Dystonia and tremor in spasmodic torticollis, in EldrigeRFahnS, (eds): Advances in Neurology. New York, Raven Press, 1976, pp 245–258.
14.
RavitsJMAronsonAEDeSantoLW: No morphometric abnormality of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in spastic dysphonia. Read before the Eighth International Congress of Neuropathology, Washington, DC, September 1978.
15.
EvansDHLMurrayJG: Regeneration of non-medulated nerve fibers. J Anat88: 465–480, 1954.
16.
GacekRRLyonMJ: Fiber components of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in the cat. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol85: 480–491, 1976.
17.
GambleHJEamesPA: An electromicroscope study of the connective tissues of human peripheral nerve. J Anat98: 655–663, 1964.
18.
PetersAPalaySLWebster deFH: The Fine Structure of the Nervous System: The Neurons and Supporting Cells. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Co, 1976, p 188.
