The Purpose of this local Website is to post any new information about SD that is received from the National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association and to post the time and date for each monthly Support Group meeting held here in Utah.

Spasmodic Dysphonia is a voice disorder that is affecting approximately 30-50,000 people in the United States alone. Out of those, approximately 30-40% are diagnosed correctly. Spasmodic Dysphonia causes spasms of the vocal cords resulting in strangled or breathy sounding speech. There are basically three different types of Spasmodic Dysphonia. The first is called ADDUCTOR, which is the most common form. With ADDUCTOR SD the vocal cords suddenly tighten when speaking, causing a strangled, tight, choppy sounding voice. ABDUCTOR is another form. With ABDUCTOR SD the vocal cords suddenly open, or pull away from each other, causing the speech to be breathy, weak or like a whisper. Some people experience a combination of the two, ADDUCTOR and ABDUCTOR. There is no cure for this voice disorder right now. Some people get temporary relief with botox injections, speech therapy and/or surgery.

The National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association is active in research and information. You can visit their website at www.dysphonia.org The Utah Spasmodic Dysphonia Support Group was started on August 25th, 2005. Bi-Monthly, the last Tuesday of the month, there will be a Support Group meeting held for all who are interested in attending. The purpose of these group meetings is to meet with others who have SD; to have educational speakers available who can describe options the SD patient may have; to form new friendships with others who understand what you go through with your day to day life living with this voice disorder and eventually help raise money for research into this disorder so that one day there will be a cure.

If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail Shirley at smgreene09@comcast.net