Three cases of muscle tension dysphonia improved using proton pump inhibitors

Abstract

We report 3 cases of muscle tension dysphonia (MTD), all involving women 44 to 68 years old, recovered using proton pump inhibitors (PPI). Case 1 had open posterior commissure (MTD Type I) and Cases 2 and 3 supraglottis compression (MTD Type II, III). It is generally assumed that functional dysphonia with maladjustment of laryngeal muscle tension is caused by improper phonation and/or emotional disorder. Our cases, however, suggest that laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) may also relate to the occurrence of MTD.