Characterization of Clinical Phenotypes of Laryngeal Dystonia and Voice Tremor

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age18-80
SponsorMassachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

About this trial

The researchers will systematically evaluate current and novel clinical voice assessment tools and measures to elucidate distinct clinical phenotypes of those with laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Males and females of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds;

Age 18-80 years;

Native English speakers;

Right-handed;

Disqualifiers

Subjects who are incapable of giving informed consent;

Pregnant or breastfeeding women until a time when they are no longer pregnant or breastfeeding. All women of childbearing potential will have a urine pregnancy test performed before MRI, which must be negative for participation in the imaging studies;

Subjects with a past or present medical history of (a) neurological problems, such as stroke, movement disorders (other than specified LD and VT in the patient groups), brain tumors, traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness, ataxias, myopathies, myasthenia gravis, demyelinating diseases; (b) psychiatric problems, such as schizophrenia, bipolar depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, alcoholism, drug dependence; (c) laryngeal problems, such as vocal fold paralysis, paresis, vocal fold nodules and polyps, carcinoma, chronic laryngitis;

Patients with any other form of dystonia;

Trial population

Patients with laryngeal dystonia Patients with voice tremor Healthy control individuals

Trial design

Design model

Case-control

Time perspective

Prospective

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Clinical assessments of laryngeal function

    Other intervention

    Participants will undergo acoustic, aerodynamic, respiratory kinematic, nasoendoscopic, and laryngeal EMG recordings, as well as real-time MRI of the upper airway for comprehensive characterization of shared and distinct features of laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor.

Treatment groups

165 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groups
Group A: Laryngeal dystonia1 intervention
Group B: Voice tremor1 intervention
Group C: Healthy controls1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Differences in voice symptoms

Clinical phenotypic features and speech structure kinematics that distinguish between laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor

Time frame
5 years

Secondary outcomes

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

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