Francis X Creighton1, Edie Hapner2, Adam Klein2, Ami Rosen3, Hyder A Jinnah3, Michael M Johns4. 1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. 2. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Emory Voice Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. 3. Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. 4. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Emory Voice Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address: michael.johns2@emory.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is a rare but often debilitating disease. Due to lack of awareness among practitioners and lack of well-defined diagnostic criteria, it can be difficult for patients with SD to receive a diagnosis and subsequent treatment. There is currently no literature documenting the efficacy of the medical community in recognizing and diagnosing this disorder. We aimed to quantify the patients' experiences with obtaining a diagnosis of SD. METHODS: One hundred seven consecutive patients with SD completed questionnaires about their experiences with SD. Patients were recruited either during outpatient laryngology visits or during participation in a National Institutes of Health funded study investigating SD. RESULTS: It took patients an average of 4.43 years (53.21 months) to be diagnosed with SD after first going to a physician with vocal symptoms. Patients had to see an average of 3.95 physicians to receive a diagnosis of SD. Patients (31.4%) had been prescribed medications other than botulinum toxin to treat their symptoms. Patients (30%) attempted alternative therapies for treatment of SD, such as chiropractor or dietary modification. CONCLUSIONS: Despite advances in diagnostic modalities in medicine, the diagnosis of SD still remains elusive. Objective criteria for the diagnosis of SD and increased clinician education are warranted to address this diagnostic delay.
PURPOSE:Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is a rare but often debilitating disease. Due to lack of awareness among practitioners and lack of well-defined diagnostic criteria, it can be difficult for patients with SD to receive a diagnosis and subsequent treatment. There is currently no literature documenting the efficacy of the medical community in recognizing and diagnosing this disorder. We aimed to quantify the patients' experiences with obtaining a diagnosis of SD. METHODS: One hundred seven consecutive patients with SD completed questionnaires about their experiences with SD. Patients were recruited either during outpatient laryngology visits or during participation in a National Institutes of Health funded study investigating SD. RESULTS: It took patients an average of 4.43 years (53.21 months) to be diagnosed with SD after first going to a physician with vocal symptoms. Patients had to see an average of 3.95 physicians to receive a diagnosis of SD. Patients (31.4%) had been prescribed medications other than botulinum toxin to treat their symptoms. Patients (30%) attempted alternative therapies for treatment of SD, such as chiropractor or dietary modification. CONCLUSIONS: Despite advances in diagnostic modalities in medicine, the diagnosis of SD still remains elusive. Objective criteria for the diagnosis of SD and increased clinician education are warranted to address this diagnostic delay.
Authors: Christy L Ludlow; Charles H Adler; Gerald S Berke; Steven A Bielamowicz; Andrew Blitzer; Susan B Bressman; Mark Hallett; H A Jinnah; Uwe Juergens; Sandra B Martin; Joel S Perlmutter; Christine Sapienza; Andrew Singleton; Caroline M Tanner; Gayle E Woodson Journal: Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2008-10 Impact factor: 3.497
Authors: Priyesh N Patel; Edmond K Kabagambe; Jennifer C Starkweather; Matthew Keller; Zaki A Ahmed; Simone C Gruber; Jordan S Akins; C Gaelyn Garrett; David O Francis Journal: Laryngoscope Date: 2018-11-13 Impact factor: 3.325
Authors: H A Jinnah; Ron Alterman; Christine Klein; Joachim K Krauss; Elena Moro; Marie Vidailhet; Robert Raike Journal: J Neural Transm (Vienna) Date: 2017-02-03 Impact factor: 3.575
Authors: Maja Rogić Vidaković; Ivana Gunjača; Josipa Bukić; Vana Košta; Joško Šoda; Ivan Konstantinović; Braco Bošković; Irena Bilić; Nikolina Režić Mužinić Journal: J Clin Med Date: 2022-06-15 Impact factor: 4.964
Authors: Christy L Ludlow; Rickie Domangue; Dinesh Sharma; H A Jinnah; Joel S Perlmutter; Gerald Berke; Christine Sapienza; Marshall E Smith; Joel H Blumin; Carrie E Kalata; Karen Blindauer; Michael Johns; Edie Hapner; Archie Harmon; Randal Paniello; Charles H Adler; Lisa Crujido; David G Lott; Stephen F Bansberg; Nicholas Barone; Teresa Drulia; Glenn Stebbins Journal: JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2018-08-01 Impact factor: 6.223