Relative Fundamental Frequency in Individuals with Globus Syndrome and Muscle Tension Dysphagia.
Daniel P Buckley, Jennifer M Vojtech, Cara E Stepp
PMID 34823980WHAT IT FOUND
Speech-language pathologists should not expect voice acoustic tests to reveal laryngeal muscle tension in patients with globus syndrome or muscle tension dysphagia.
These patients showed no difference in relative fundamental frequency compared to typical speakers, suggesting any tension present does not affect voice production.
Key findings
01There was no statistically significant difference in relative fundamental frequency (RFF) between individuals with globus syndrome, muscle tension dysphagia (MTDg), and controls.
02RFF values for offset and onset cycles were similar across all three groups, with no significant interaction between group and cycle.
03The study suggests that if paralaryngeal muscle tension exists in these disorders, it does not impact the specific laryngeal mechanisms measured by voice acoustics.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (48 total participants), limiting the ability to detect anything but large differences between groups. Diagnosis of MTDg relied on subjective visual impressions of supraglottic constriction by otolaryngologists, which can vary between clinicians and is not always correlated with actual physiological tension. The study did not control for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) history or treatment, which is a common contributor to globus symptoms and may have confounded the group characteristics. Participants did not report voice symptoms, so the results may not apply to patients with globus or MTDg who also have concurrent dysphonia.
Declared interests
One author has received consulting fees from companies developing human movement technologies. The other authors declared no competing interests.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the lack of RFF differences as proof that these patients have no muscle tension. The measure specifically tracks tension in the laryngeal muscles used for voice production; it may miss tension in other peri-laryngeal muscles that contribute to swallowing or sensation without affecting the voice signal.