Which type of dysphonia is characterized by spasticity in the laryngeal muscles?

Spastic dysphonia is specifically characterized by the involuntary tension and spasms of the laryngeal muscles, which leads to an interrupted or strained voice quality. This condition arises from neurological issues, often involving the central nervous system, resulting in the muscles controlling phonation becoming overly tight or hyperactive.

Individuals with spastic dysphonia often experience difficulty controlling their voice, which can lead to a harsh, strained, or strangled quality. This is directly linked to the laryngeal musculature's inability to relax appropriately during phonation, leading to inconsistencies in speech and vocal strain.

Understanding this mechanism provides clarity on how spastic dysphonia distinctly impacts voice production compared to other types, such as breathy dysphonia, which is associated with inadequate closure of the vocal folds, or hyperfunctional dysphonia, which involves excessive tension but not necessarily the spasms seen in spastic dysphonia. Neuromuscular dysphonia might suggest issues with the muscle control but does not specifically emphasize the spastic nature as it pertains to laryngeal tension. Thus, spastic dysphonia is the most accurate descriptor for this particular voice disorder characterized by muscle spasticity in the larynx.