Dyskinesia of Vocal Chords - Patient 1

Patient aged 69 years, an active painter, having a history of repeated psychological stress. From the very first consultation, two years ago, in 2015, she suffered with a definite depressive condition. She was hospitalised in 2005, 2007 and 2010 for suspected strokes, but there were no indications shown on the brain M.R.I. For the last 4 years, she has also had a disabling dysphonia for which she is treated every three months at the Rothschild hospital in Paris with botulinum toxin which improved, each time, the dysphonia during 3 months but caused her problems swallowing during a three-week period following each injection. She considered this very painful.

The neurological examination was normal at the moment of the first consultation, but her voice was greatly disturbed by the dysphonia, being hoarse and feeble. She gets tired very quickly when required to talk for long periods of time. (video 1).

Central magnetic Wide field stimulation had no effect on the dysphonia. After peripheral magnetic stimulation with a small circular coil, used on the area of the vocal chords (see video 2) she very quickly recovered a normal speaking voice (see video 3). In two years there was only one relapse that recovered immediately after further stimulation.

This patient certainly presented some neurological functional disorders in relation to emotional fragility. Given the normality of the brain M.R.I, the paralysis she had on three occasions was also of functional origin. The Dysphonia also falls within the framework of these disorders. Each time the botulinum toxin sessions were effective but with very annoying side effects according to the patient. It is therefore noted that botulinum toxin was also effective on functional dysphonia for this patient. The peripheral magnetic stimulation transformed the situation in a totally non-painful way and with a much greater duration of efficacy of about 2 years. She says her life has changed completely and she has been able to resume her activity as a painter in a much more active way than before. She is able to attend numerous exhibitions.