Voice Disorders in Fibromyalgia

This book presents a review of the literature on voice disorders in patients with fibromyalgia with a thorough discussion of the pathophysiology of those disorders. The impact of poor muscle contraction and the decrease in functional capacity on voice are discussed in the context of this syndrome. Similarly, the adverse effect on phonation of the decrease in maximum expiratory force and of dyspnea in patients with fibromyalgia is highlighted. The authors also discuss the laryngeal manifestation of the numerous comorbidities associated with this syndrome, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, obesity, sleep apnea, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Treatment-induced change in voice quality also is highlighted, and ideas for future research on the link between fibromyalgia and phonation are suggested.