Objective:
Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is a complex voice disorder, with botulinum toxin (Botox) injection every three months serving as the current standard of care. Only a minority of patients receive both Botox and structured voice therapy. Building on prior success treating dysphonia in head and neck cancer patients, this study evaluated the effectiveness of ABCLOVE Voice Training—an eclectic, multi-faceted rehabilitation framework—in improving voice outcomes for individuals with SD.
Methods:
Fourteen patients (3 males, 11 females; mean age 52 years) were enrolled in this outpatient program. Diagnoses included abductor SD (2/14, 14%), adductor SD (9/14, 64%), and adductor SD with tremor (3/14, 21%). Pre- and post-treatment evaluations included stroboscopic assessment and acoustic measures—Maximum Phonation Time (MPT), Relative Average Perturbation (RAP, hoarseness), and Pitch Range (PR)—using the Kay-Pentax Visi-Pitch IV Model 3950. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed with the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V). All participants received structured ABCLOVE Voice Training.
Results:
All patients demonstrated measurable improvement in RAP, MPT, and PR, with corresponding benefits in perceptual and self-reported outcomes. Notably, patients referred within one year of diagnosis showed the most substantial progress, in some cases eliminating the need for repeat Botox injections. These findings suggest that early voice therapy can complement or, in select cases, reduce reliance on pharmacologic treatment.
Conclusion:
ABCLOVE Voice Training offers a promising therapeutic option for managing spasmodic dysphonia. Early referral enhances treatment response and may reduce long-term dependence on Botox injections. Integration of ABCLOVE into clinical practice may expand management strategies for this challenging disorder.