Muscle Tension Dysphonia

Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) is a change in the sound and feel of your voice due to excessive muscle tension or tightness in your voice box and the areas around it. This tension may prevent your voice from working efficiently and having a clear sound. It is the result of an imbalance in the coordination of your muscles and your breathing patterns and the resonance or vibrations used to create a smooth clear voice.

Common Symptoms of MTD

• Hoarseness, whispered voice or strained vocal quality that can be constant or come and go throughout the day.
• Pitch breaks with speaking or singing. Loss of vocal range.
• Pain or tightness in your neck muscles when massaged or rubbed.
• Vocal fatigue and a feeling of being worn out after periods of speaking.

What Causes MTD

• The cause of MTD is still truly unknown. Researchers believe it is the body’s reaction or more accurately an over-reaction to illness, stress or misuse of the voice.
• MTD can develop immediately following an upper respiratory infection, laryngitis, age related changes, swallowing/choking episode or even after a stressful life event.
• Periods of high stress and anxiety are commonly associated with MTD symptom onset.

Treatment for MTD

• MTD is treated by having a Voice Evaluation and voice therapy sessions from a speech-language pathologist. Voice therapy is usually one hour every other week and consists of exercises targeting airflow and resonance to decrease the tension within your voice box. Manual therapy to decrease tension is also common. Voice therapy can often improve your voice quality in just a few short sessions. Practicing your therapy exercises is essential for improvement. There is no surgery or medication that can help this behavioral voice disorder known as Muscle Tension Dysphonia.

To schedule a Voice Evaluation with our certified Speech-Language Pathologist specializing in voice disorders please call our appointment line at 601-815-6064. Voice therapy services are offered at our UMMC Clinic at the Lakeland Medical Building or the UMMC Grants Ferry location.

Back to ENT Patient Information