Paradoxical vocal fold motion - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

Breathing disorder that is frequently mistaken for asthma.
Accurate diagnosis is made by a multidisciplinary team, which can include a speech language pathologist, a primary care physician, an asthma/allergy specialist, a pulmonologist, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a sports medicine specialist, an athletic trainer, and a gastroenterologist.
Diagnosis is established through the case history, laryngeal visualization, and pulmonary function studies.
Behavioral therapy by a speech language pathologist is the standard treatment.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux: bilateral edema and erythema of the vocal folds with epithelial layer thickness, interarytenoid thickness

From the collection of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Quick Reference

History & Exam
- Key Factors
- Other Factors
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Diagnostics Tests
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Treatment Options
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Definition

Epidemiology

Etiology

Pathophysiology

Images

Normal larynx: normal color of vocal folds and surrounding structures, smooth vocal fold edges
Irritable larynx: bilateral erythema of the arytenoid complex bilaterally with tissue changes suggestive of early granuloma
Laryngopharyngeal reflux: bilateral edema and erythema of the vocal folds with epithelial layer thickness, interarytenoid thickness
Reproduction of breathing attack: adduction of arytenoid complex during inhalation
Abduction breathing exercise: abduction of the arytenoid complex bilaterally with nasal inhalation

Citations

Key Articles

Mathers-Schmidt BA. Paradoxical vocal fold motion: a tutorial on a complex disorder and the speech-language pathologist's role. Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2001;10:111-125.
Morrison M, Rammage L, Emami AJ. The irritable larynx syndrome. J Voice. 1999;13:447-455.[Abstract]
Mathers-Schmidt BA, Brilla LR. Inspiratory muscle training in exercise-induced paradoxical vocal fold motion. J Voice. 2005;19:635-644.[Abstract]

Referenced Articles

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