Abstract
Though systemic neurological disorders may result laryngeal symptoms, the larynx may be the only site affected by some conditions. This committee presentation will review specific approaches to this challenging group of patients. The session will be divided into 5 sections, each with illustrative audio and video examples. Interactive questions will be posed at appropriate times throughout the session. Following a brief introduction, fundamentals of the detailed neurolaryngeal history and physical examination will be reviewed. Expert questioning and endoscopic skills may provide important diagnostic information. Muscle tension dysphonia and other common clinical presentations may mimic movement abnormalities; keys to distinguishing these will be reviewed. Stroke and the laryngeal dysfunction resulting from it are major topics in this area. The pathophysiology of cerebrovascular events as they relate to laryngeal function will be reviewed along with state-of-the-art diagnostic and management approaches. Spasmodic dysphonia (SD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and laryngeal tremor are three of the most common motion disorders affecting the larynx. History and physical examination features for each of these conditions will be reviewed, with each session featuring a discussion of contemporary management options. In the SD portion of the presentation, both pathophysiology and management will be reviewed, including surgical options for patients. The ongoing role for botulinum toxin injections and speech-language intervention will be discussed. Parkinson's disease and laryngeal tremor will be reviewed in much the same manner. Following this series of “mini-presentations,” several illustrative cases will be presented to bring out critical management points and dilemmas. Audience questions are encouraged.