Voice in movement disorders

Abstract

Movement disorders (MDs) are a heterogeneous group of neurological diseases characterized by the alteration of voluntary and automatic execution of body movements. They can significantly impact patients’ quality of life (QoL) when they affect their voice, affecting their ability to perform daily activities, communicate, and actively participate in society. The present review seeks to describe MDs that affect the voice from a comprehensive perspective, describing their classification, etiology, clinical manifestations, and available treatment options. The main MDs that affect the voice are classified as hyperkinetic and include laryngeal dystonia (LD), essential tremor (ET), and vocal tic disorder. In the group of hypokinetic MDs, there is Parkinson’s disease (PD). These disorders can affect language fluency, intelligibility, voice intensity, and other larynx functions. The diagnosis is clinical, confirmed by an otorhinolaryngology evaluation. Complementary tests are unnecessary, although video laryngoscopy helps rule out other abnormalities. Treatment will be focused according to cause and severity of vocal symptoms. A comprehensive multidisciplinary approach involving neurologists, psychiatrists, speech therapists, and otorhinolaryngologists is required. Currently, otorhinolaryngologists have effective management tools to improve the QoL of patients with MDs that affect their larynx.