• Medical orientation: Cause unknown. Theories include: 1) neurological, 2) dystonia, 3) chemical brain imbalance, 4) dysfunctional basal ganglia (not found on autopsy) 5) gene related disorder, 6) psychiatric, 7) molecular biology, 8) Reflux (GERD, gastro esophageal reflux disorder)
  • No medical cures ever for 130 years since Traube first described the condition in 1871.
• Non-medical - Dr. Cooper: Cause of the SD problem: Misuse and abuse of the voice. (speaking singing one or both)
  • Ongoing Cures for more than 30 years by Dr. Cooper's non-medical DVR

SD patients diagnosed at UCLA Medical Center, Scripps, Cedars-Sinai, Mayo Clinic, Vanderbilt Medical Center, etc. (see website) Confirmed lasting cures.

• Medical orientation: Botulinum toxin known as Botox (Bo for Botulinum and Tox for toxin), a deadly poison, is the medical treatment of choice. Experimental. Not directly FDA approved for SD. Dosage uncertain. Guessing game. Needle placement can be traumatic. (See SD patient statements on my website). Permanent voice loss at times. Rollercoaster ride.
• Non-medical - Dr. Cooper: Treatment by Direct Voice Rehabilitation (DVR), non-risk, non-invasive.

• Medical orientation: Treatment: Ongoing botulinum toxin shots every few weeks or months for life, 4-10 per year or more, each year, every year. Symptom relief temporary.

**In the December, 1999 National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association Newsletter, page 7, Dr. Gerald Berke, Chairman of UCLA Head and Neck Division reports regarding Botox (botulinum toxin): "...there are some obvious drawbacks. It requires lifelong visits from 4 to 10 times per year for repeat injections. The injections are not inexpensive. The interval between post injection breathiness, good voice, and the return of symptoms may not be very long in some patients. Hypersensitivity and antibody formation have been shown to produce some long term structural changes in muscle cells."

• Non-medical - Dr. Cooper: DVR is non-invasive, can help change your voice and change your life. Dr. Cooper looks to curative treatment vs. medical symptomatic, palliative band-aid care.

• Medical orientation: A leading medical doctor has asked that Botox be withdrawn at the earliest possible time fearing the long-term downside effects on the body. Can/and/or/will ongoing Botox shots for SD lead to or result in cancer? Nobody knows the long-term downside effects on the body to possible cancer. Serious side effects are not being reported. (See SD patient statements). Not safe and effective in short-term use as thought.
• Non-medical - Dr. Cooper: No risk involved. Safe. Cures, recoveries and improvements.

• Medical orientation: Surgery for Spasmodic Dysphonia. The Dedo surgery is reported to be in the dustbin of history by Dr. Robert Sataloff, Editor of the Journal of Voice. No cures ever. Approximately 2/3 of those undergoing that surgery are worse off after surgery (ASHA SD Fact Sheet, 1994.) A new surgery by Dr. Gerald Berke has shown some serious failures. No cures reported. Botox treatment is a full medical employment act, an annuity for life for the medics giving these shots.
• Non-medical - Dr. Cooper's DVR reports ongoing cures of SD for over 30 years. Patients who have been cured of Spasmodic Dysphonia can be contacted through Dr. Cooper's office.