Understanding and improving treatment for laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
Official title: Next-generation clinical phenotyping and pathophysiology of laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
Funded at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · NIH-10915594 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor to better understand how they affect speech and daily life, with the goal of improving diagnosis and treatment for people dealing with these conditions.
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 start | September 15, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $2,358,689 |
| NIH project number | 5P50DC019900-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10915594 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor who experience significant speech impairment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other speech disorders unrelated to laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor, two neurological disorders that severely affect speech and quality of life. It aims to clarify the unique clinical characteristics and underlying neural mechanisms of these conditions, which are often misdiagnosed and inadequately treated. By conducting collaborative studies across multiple institutions, the research seeks to establish better diagnostic criteria and develop targeted therapies for patients suffering from these disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnosis and more effective treatments for individuals with laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding and treating similar neurological disorders, indicating potential for success in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Simonyan, Kristina — Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Study coordinator: Simonyan, Kristina
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Next-generation clinical profiling for laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
A multi-site program is exploring what makes laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor different from other conditions, aiming to improve diagnosis and targeted treatments for people affected by these voice disorders.
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Deep brain stimulation to improve voice in laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
Researchers will record brain activity during and before DBS surgery to learn how stimulation changes voice control in people with laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor.
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Brain causes of vocal spasms (laryngeal dystonia) and voice tremor
This project uses advanced brain imaging while people speak to find when and where brain activity goes wrong in laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor.
-
Telling strained voices apart from shaky voices to improve diagnosis
This project looks for clear voice and clinical features to help people with strained, stopped, or shaky speech get the right diagnosis faster.
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Understanding voice spasms and tremors (laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor)
This program will map patterns and causes of voice spasms and tremors to help people with laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor get more accurate diagnoses and better treatments.
-
Using deep brain stimulation to improve voice control in patients with movement disorders
This study is looking at how a treatment called deep brain stimulation can help people with movement disorders, like laryngeal dystonia and essential tremor, improve their voice control while they talk, so they can better understand how the brain affects voice production and find new ways to help those struggling with
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.