LARYNGEAL TARDIVE-DYSKINESIA

Neuroleptic treatment frequently induces movement disorders, the tardi ve dyskinesias. These are frequently seen in the orobuccolingual regio n. Although the beginning of neuroleptic treatment can cause acute dys tonia and breathing difficulty, chronic neuroleptic treatment has only rarely been shown to affect the laryngeal musculature. Laryngeal abno rmal movements were assessed in 12 patients receiving chronic neurolep tic treatment who showed orobuccolingual abnormal movements. The Abnor mal Involuntary Movement Scale was systematically assessed in all pati ents. Clinical examination revealed that 8 had speech disorders, 8 had breathing difficulties, and 5 had swallowing disorders. Laryngeal end oscopy showed that 10 of the patients had intermittent partial obstruc tion of the glottis, due to repetitive abnormal adduction of the vocal cords. Percutaneous electromyography of the thyroarytenoid muscles sh owed spontaneous irregular and prolonged muscular contractions, while the patients were at rest and when speaking. The patients were not awa re of these movements. In view of this finding, laryngeal dyskinesia s hould be considered and studied as a possible side-effect of chronic n euroleptic use.