Spasmodic dystonia

This study uses botulinum toxin (Botox) injections to treat movement disorders such as dystonia, tremor, and spasticity. Up to 2,000 participants aged 2 and older will receive tailored injections, with doctors trained in proper techniques. The goal is to manage symptoms and build…

This study is developing an artificial intelligence system that can recognize different parts of the throat and nasal passages and detect abnormal growths or lesions. Researchers will train the AI using thousands of endoscopy images and then test its accuracy against doctors with…

This study is testing a computer program called DystoniaNet that uses artificial intelligence to help doctors diagnose isolated dystonia, a movement disorder. The trial will enroll 1000 people with dystonia or other conditions that look like it, such as Parkinson's disease or ess…

This study is testing a device called ViBandz, which uses small vibrating motors strapped to the body to provide vibration therapy. Researchers want to see if it is easy and comfortable for children with neurological conditions to use at home. The study will involve 30 children a…

This study tests whether a 20-minute session of passive music therapy, delivered through an app just before entering the operating room, can lower anxiety and pain in adults undergoing ear, nose, or throat surgery. Five hundred participants will be randomly assigned to receive mu…

Laryngeal dystonia causes the vocal folds to spasm, leading to a strained or breathy voice. This study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called rTMS can calm the overactive brain signals that cause these spasms. Twenty-five adults with laryngeal dystonia wi…

This early study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called tDCS can improve voice quality in people with laryngeal dystonia (spasmodic dysphonia). Ten participants will receive active, sham, and no stimulation to compare effects. The goal is to see if target…

This study looks at whether adjusting deep brain stimulation (DBS) can improve movement, speech, and swallowing in people already implanted with DBS for conditions like tremor, stroke, or traumatic brain injury. Researchers will test hand dexterity, grip strength, facial movement…

This study tests a brain-computer interface (BCI) that gives real-time feedback to help people with laryngeal dystonia control voice spasms. About 40 adults with a specific type of voice disorder will try this adaptive neurofeedback therapy. The goal is to reduce the number of vo…

This study looks at whether the method of delivering voice therapy affects how well people with voice problems (like muscle tension dysphonia or vocal cord lesions) can communicate over a year. About 120 adults who do not smoke and have not had voice therapy or surgery recently w…

This study aims to understand the link between genes and symptoms in people with inherited movement disorders. Researchers will study up to 2,500 participants, including patients and their family members, to identify new disease-causing genes and improve diagnosis. The goal is to…

This natural history study is collecting information from up to 4,000 people with movement disorders (like Parkinson's disease or tremor) and their family members. Participants undergo exams, blood tests, and imaging, but receive no new treatments. The goal is to gather data that…

This study aims to find the genetic causes of movement disorders and dementias by analyzing DNA from up to 12,000 participants, including patients and their family members. Researchers will collect blood or saliva samples and look for gene mutations linked to these conditions. Th…

This study is gathering medical information and samples from up to 5,000 people with neurosurgical conditions like brain tumors, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease. Participants receive standard care while their data is collected for future research. No new treatments are being te…

This study tests whether using a new classification system (RTSS-Voice) to document voice therapy sessions helps people with muscle tension dysphonia, a condition causing hoarseness and vocal strain. Researchers will compare outcomes from clinicians' first year using the system t…

This study aims to see if analyzing the chemicals in a child's breath can help diagnose and monitor diseases like asthma, neurological disorders, and type 1 diabetes. Researchers will collect breath samples from up to 3,600 children and teens to find patterns linked to these cond…

This study explores whether a non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) can help people with motor disorders, such as spinal cord injury or stroke, control assistive devices using their thoughts. Researchers will record brain signals with EEG and use machine learning to interpr…

This study looks at how a gentle vibration applied to the throat affects brain activity and voice in people with laryngeal dystonia, a condition that causes involuntary voice spasms. Researchers will use brain scans and voice recordings to understand why some people get relief fr…

This study is creating a shared database of children who have received deep brain stimulation (DBS) for movement disorders like dystonia, epilepsy, or Tourette syndrome. By pooling data from multiple hospitals, researchers hope to answer key questions about who benefits most and …

This study uses brain scans and genetic tests to explore why different forms of focal dystonia develop. Researchers will compare brain activity and structure in people with dystonia, their unaffected relatives, and healthy volunteers. The goal is to identify unique brain markers …

This study aims to translate the Hypertonia Assessment Tool (HAT) into Turkish and check if it works correctly. The HAT helps doctors identify different types of increased muscle tone in children with motor disorders. Researchers will test the tool on 70 children under 18 who hav…

This study looks at how deep brain stimulation (DBS) — a treatment already used for movement disorders — affects voice and speech in people with laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor. Researchers will record brain signals during surgery and measure voice changes afterward. The goal …

Researchers at Massachusetts Eye and Ear are studying 165 people with laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor, along with healthy volunteers, to better understand these voice disorders. Participants will undergo voice recordings, breathing tests, and imaging to identify distinct featu…

This study looks at how brain changes and genetic risk factors are linked in laryngeal dystonia, a voice disorder. Researchers will use brain imaging and DNA tests in up to 410 people, including patients, their relatives, and those with similar voice problems. The goal is to find…

This study uses brain scans (fMRI, MEG, EEG) and a numbing throat spray to understand what goes wrong in the brains of people with laryngeal dystonia or voice tremor. Researchers will compare brain activity between these groups and healthy volunteers. The goal is to find unique b…

This study will use smartphone recordings of speech, eye movements, and arm fatigue to measure key symptoms of myasthenia gravis, a condition that causes muscle weakness. Researchers will compare 225 participants (both with and without MG) to see if machine learning can accuratel…