Understanding and treating voice disorders with muscle network mapping
Functional synergistic perilaryngeal muscle network using synchronized multi-sensor surface electromyography to improve diagnosis and treatment of voice disorders
This work aims to better understand and measure excessive muscle activity around the voice box, which causes common voice problems like pain and fatigue.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11132861 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many people experience voice problems due to too much muscle activity around their voice box, leading to pain, strain, and fatigue. Currently, doctors rely on what patients tell them and their own observations, which can make it hard to accurately diagnose and track treatment progress. This project is developing a new way to measure how these muscles work together, or sometimes don't work together, using special sensors on the skin. By creating a detailed map of this muscle activity, we hope to provide doctors with a more objective tool to identify and treat voice disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future related studies would be individuals experiencing voice problems such as pain, increased vocal effort, strain, or vocal fatigue.
Not a fit: Patients whose voice disorders are not related to excessive perilaryngeal muscle activity may not directly benefit from this specific diagnostic approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatments for patients suffering from voice disorders caused by excessive muscle activity.
How similar studies have performed: While current diagnostic methods are subjective, this approach of using synchronized multi-sensor surface electromyography to map muscle networks is innovative for voice disorders.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Johnson, Aaron Matthew — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Johnson, Aaron Matthew
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.