Understanding voice disorders like laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
Official title: Characterization of clinical phenotypes of laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor
Funded at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · NIH-10915596 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at two uncommon voice disorders, laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor, to help doctors better understand and diagnose them, so that people with these conditions can get the right treatment 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 start | September 15, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $405,234 |
| NIH project number | 5P50DC019900-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10915596 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing symptoms of laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor, particularly those who have faced challenges in obtaining a correct diagnosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with voice disorders that are not classified as laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on two rare neurological voice disorders: laryngeal dystonia (LD) and voice tremor (VT). It aims to improve the accuracy of diagnosis for these conditions, which often go misdiagnosed for years. By using both established and innovative clinical assessment tools, the research seeks to identify key clinical features that differentiate LD from VT. This will help in developing better treatment plans and management strategies for affected individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate diagnoses and effective treatments for patients suffering from laryngeal dystonia and voice tremor.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has highlighted the challenges in accurately diagnosing voice disorders, indicating that this approach could lead to significant advancements in the field.
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.