Actively Recruiting
Characterization of Clinical Phenotypes of Laryngeal Dystonia and Voice Tremor
Led by Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · Updated on 2025-12-02
165
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
M
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Lead Sponsor
U
University of Utah
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are studying laryngeal dystonia (LD) and voice tremor (VT), two neurological voice disorders that affect speaking by causing strained voice quality or shaky voice, respectively. This observational study aims to better distinguish these conditions using both current and new clinical assessment tools, as misdiagnosis is common due to overlapping symptoms and unreliable criteria. Improving diagnosis will help guide better treatment and understanding of these disorders. Participants include patients with LD or VT and healthy volunteers. They will undergo comprehensive clinical evaluations including acoustic, aerodynamic, and respiratory kinematic recordings, as well as laryngeal electromyography (EMG), nasoendoscopy, and real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the upper airway. These assessments will analyze voice patterns and movement during various speech tasks to identify distinguishing features. Computational modeling will also be used to simulate acoustic output related to each condition. During the study, participants will complete detailed voice assessments and imaging procedures to characterize their voice symptoms over a five-year period. Researchers will track differences in voice symptoms and use multiple clinical tools to quantify voice patterns and muscle activity. The study includes healthy controls for comparison. The total participation timeline and monitoring details are organized to provide thorough evaluation and data collection for accurate diagnosis and classification of these voice disorders.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Characterization of Clinical Phenotypes of Laryngeal Dystonia and Voice Tremor
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Males and females of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds
- Age between 18 and 80 years
- Native English speakers
- Right-handed individuals
- Normal cognitive status
- Patients diagnosed with laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor
- Healthy individuals without neurological, psychiatric, or otolaryngological problems
You will not qualify if you...
- Unable to give informed consent
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women until no longer pregnant or breastfeeding; women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test before MRI
- History of neurological problems (stroke, other movement disorders, brain tumors, traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness, ataxias, myopathies, myasthenia gravis, demyelinating diseases)
- History of psychiatric problems (schizophrenia, bipolar depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, alcoholism, drug dependence)
- History of laryngeal problems (vocal fold paralysis, paresis, nodules, polyps, carcinoma, chronic laryngitis)
- Diagnosis of any other form of dystonia
- Presence of dystonia symptoms at rest or mirror dystonia
- Patients not symptomatic due to botulinum toxin treatment or less than 3 months post-injection
- Use of medications affecting the central nervous system
- History of head or neck surgery altering anatomy or innervation
- Presence of certain tattoos or ferromagnetic objects incompatible with MRI (implanted stimulators, surgical clips, prosthesis, artificial heart valve)
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 1 day
Participants undergo comprehensive clinical assessments including acoustic, aerodynamic, respiratory kinematic, nasoendoscopic, laryngeal EMG recordings, and real-time MRI to characterize laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor features.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 5 years
Participants are observed over a period of up to 5 years to assess differences in voice symptoms and disease progression.
Follow-up visits as scheduled by the study team
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Massachusetts Eye and Ear and University of Utah
Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
K
Kristina Simonyan, MD, PhD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
3
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