Telling strained voices apart from shaky voices to improve diagnosis
Characterization of clinical phenotypes of laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
This project looks for clear voice and clinical features to help people with strained, stopped, or shaky speech get the right diagnosis faster.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11161197 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will collect your voice recordings, medical history, and standardized clinical exams to compare people with suspected laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor. They will use listener ratings, acoustic measurements, and some new clinical tests to look for patterns that reliably separate the two conditions. Testing may include specific speaking and breathing tasks and computerized analysis of your recordings. The aim is to develop evidence-based signs doctors can use to diagnose more quickly and accurately.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who have chronic intermittent strained/strangled voice, sudden voice stops or breathiness, or a voice that sounds shaky and are suspected to have laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor.
Not a fit: People whose voice issues are clearly due to structural laryngeal lesions, acute infection, or non-neurological causes may not benefit from this diagnostic-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could shorten the time to correct diagnosis and lead to better, more targeted treatment plans for people with these voice problems.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research shows current perceptual methods often misclassify laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor, so this project combines established acoustic and clinical tools with new measures in a partly novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Simonyan, Kristina — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Simonyan, Kristina
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.