Vocal Tremor in Essential Tremor: Understanding Physiologic Cues in Older Adults
Official title: Physiologic Correlates of Vocal Tremor Affecting Those with Essential Tremor
Funded at Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · NIH-11530720 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies why and how vocal tremor happens in people with essential tremor, aiming to better understand and describe voice changes in older adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | February 12, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $653,819 |
| NIH project number | 2R56DC016838-06A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11530720 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 65 and older with essential tremor who experience or are at risk for vocal tremor.
✕Less likely to help
Older adults with essential tremor who do not develop vocal tremor or who do not participate in voice-related assessments may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Essential tremor patients, especially those 65 and older, often develop a disabling vocal tremor that affects communication. The project aims to map physiological and kinematic markers of vocal tremor using advanced measurements to clarify how the voice is affected beyond what clinicians can easily observe. By comparing classifications across neurology, otolaryngology, and speech-language pathology, the work seeks to harmonize how VT is defined and diagnosed. The study plan involves non-invasive assessments, recording voice and related physiology to identify patterns that correlate with speech impairment. Outcomes could lead to more precise diagnoses and personalized management for EVT in older adults.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Clearer and more consistent diagnosis of vocal tremor could lead to better-targeted therapies and improved communication for people with EVT.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that multimodal voice and physiological measurements can distinguish tremor-related voice changes, supporting potential benefits of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barkmeier-Kraemer, Julie M — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Barkmeier-Kraemer, Julie M
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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.