NOW RECRUITING | Laryngeal Vibration for Spasmodic Dysphonia (SD-VTS)
Vibro-tactile stimulation – A novel behavioral therapy
Vibro-tactile stimulation (VTS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that our laboratory developed for people with SD. In preliminary research, our team documented that a one-time 30-minute application of VTS can result in measurable improvements in the voice quality of people with SD.
A clinical trial study to assess the effects of VTS
In a new research study funded by the National Institutes of Health, we now investigate systematically the possible longer-term benefits of this approach for improving the voice symptoms of people with SD. Study participants will administer VTS at home by themselves for up to 8 weeks. Researchers will assess their voice quality and monitor the corresponding neurophysiological changes in the brain using electroencephalography in the laboratory at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the VTS in-home training. The findings of the study will inform patients and clinicians on the possible impact of this therapeutic approach. It could promote the development of wearable VTS devices that would enlarge the available therapeutic arsenal for treating voice symptoms in SD.
Contact information
Dr. Jürgen Konczak, PhD, Professor in the School of Kinesiology, is the
Principal Investigator of the study. If you would like further information, please contact the study coordinators Dr. Naveen Elangovan, PhD, at
612-625-0107 or naveen@umn.edu or Arash Mahnan, MS at 612-625-3313 or amahnan@umn.edu.
Supported by NIH 1R01DC016315-01A1 | ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03746509