Functional Speech and Voice Disorders: Case Series and Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Functional disorders of speech and voice, subtypes of functional movement disorders, represent abnormalities in speech and voice that are thought to have an underlying psychological cause. These disorders exhibit several positive and negative features that distinguish them from organic disorders. Methods and Results: We describe the clinical manifestations of functional disorders of speech and voice, and illustrate these features using six clinical cases. Conclusions: Functional disorders of speech and voice may manifest in a variety of ways, including dysphonia, stuttering, or prosodic abnormalities. Given that these disorders have been understudied and may resemble organic disorders, diagnosis may be challenging. Appropriate treatment may be quite effective, highlighting the importance of prompt and accurate diagnosis.