A Single Center Observational Study of the Functional Synergistic Perilaryngeal Muscle Network (FSPMN) using synchronized multi-sensor surface electromyography to improve diagnosis and treatment of voice disorders

Are you eligible to participate in this study?

You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:

  • Conditions:
    Voice Disorders
  • Age: Between 18 Year(s) - 100 Year(s)
  • Gender: Male or Female
  • Other Inclusion Criteria:
    Aim 1, Disruption of the perilaryngeal neuromuscular network in dysphonia
      Patient Group
    1. Primary muscle tension dysphonia
    2. Phonotraumatic vocal fold lesion(s)
    3. Unilateral vocal fold paralysis (with complaints of vocal hyperfunction)
    4. Age-related vocal fold atrophy (with complaints of vocal hyperfunction)
      Control Group
    1. No history or current complaints of a voice disorder
    2. No current laryngeal abnormalities, as determined by a laryngology evaluation
    Aim 2, Perilaryngeal neuromuscular response to treatment
      Patient Group
    1. Primary muscle tension dysphonia
    2. Unilateral vocal fold paralysis (with complaints of vocal hyperfunction)
      Control Group
    1. No history or current complaints of a voice disorder
    2. No current laryngeal abnormalities, as determined by a laryngology evaluation
    Aim 3, Perilaryngeal neuromuscular response to vocal increased demand
      Patient Group
    1. Primary muscle tension dysphonia
      Control Group
    1. No history or current complaints of a voice disorder
    2. No current laryngeal abnormalities, as determined by a laryngology evaluation

You may not be eligible for this study if the following are true:

  • Aim 1, Disruption of the perilaryngeal neuromuscular network in dysphonia
    1. Children or minors under the age of 18
    2. Any contraindication for wearing the Trigno wireless sEMG sensors, such as a known or reported (at any time including during the study) allergy to silver
    3. History of vocal pathology
    4. History of head and neck surgery in the past 3 months
    5. Presence of open wound or/and ulcer in close proximity to sEMG sensors
    6. "Smart" implant with a microcontroller (such as a pain pump or nerve stimulator)
    7. Participation in additional clinical research studies using investigational treatments that may affect the voice
    8. Presence or history of swallowing disorders
    Aim 2, Perilaryngeal neuromuscular response to treatment
      Additionally, participants from Aim 1 choosing to enroll in Aim 2 will be excluded if they are diagnosed with:
    1. Phonotraumatic vocal fold lesion(s)
    2. Age-related vocal fold atrophy (with complaints of vocal hyperfunction)
    Aim 3, Perilaryngeal neuromuscular response to vocal increased demand
      Additionally, participants from Aim 1 and/or Aim 2 choosing to enroll in Aim 3 will be excluded if they are diagnosed with:
    1. Phonotraumatic vocal fold lesion(s)
    2. Age-related vocal fold atrophy (with complaints of vocal hyperfunction)
    3. Unilateral vocal fold paralysis (with complaints of vocal hyperfunction)



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