About this trial
This randomized clinical trial with a crossover design aims to investigate the effects of neuromodulation through repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to patients diagnosed with laryngeal dystonia. Participants will undergo three experimental conditions: (1) rTMS alone, (2) rTMS combined with speech-language therapy, and (3) sham rTMS combined with speech-language therapy. The order of the conditions will be randomized. Each phase of the protocol will consist of five consecutive sessions.
Outcomes will include acoustic vocal quality parameters, perceptual-auditory voice assessment, self-ratings of vocal effort, smoothed cepstral peak prominence measures, and global perceived change following the intervention. It is expected that the study will contribute to a better understanding of the effects of the intervention on vocal outcomes, supporting the optimization and standardization of therapeutic protocols for laryngeal dystonia.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Adults (≥18 years) of any sex with a confirmed diagnosis of laryngeal dystonia
Participants not undergoing botulinum toxin treatment at the time of the intervention
Ability to provide informed consent
Ability to complete all study assessments and intervention procedures
Disqualifiers
Other forms of dystonia
Vocal fold lesions
Vocal fold paralysis
Contraindications to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Active rTMS
- Sham rTMS
- Speech-Language Therapy