Investigating Past Trauma in Laryngoresponders Versus Non-Laryngoresponders: Piloting New Methods in an Exploratory Study

Diana Rose Becker; Brett Welch; Elisa Monti; Harmony Sullivan; Leah B Helou

doi:10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.05.011

Investigating Past Trauma in Laryngoresponders Versus Non-Laryngoresponders: Piloting New Methods in an Exploratory Study

J Voice. 2022 Jun 11:S0892-1997(22)00144-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.05.011. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Diana Rose Becker¹, Brett Welch², Elisa Monti³, Harmony Sullivan⁴, Leah B Helou⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
² Department of Communication Science and Disorders, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
³ Department of Psychology, The New School, New York City, New York.
⁴ Clinical Psychology, Private Practice, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
⁵ Department of Communication Science and Disorders, The University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: lbh7@pitt.edu.

PMID: 35701254
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.05.011

Abstract

Objectives/hypothesis: This exploratory pilot study aimed to probe the relationship between past experiences of trauma in people who self-identify as "laryngoresponders" compared to those who do not. It also explored the communicative context of past traumatic events in laryngoresponders versus non-laryngoresponders.

Study design: Prospective, within-subjects experimental design.

Methods: 29 vocally healthy cisgender women (ages 19 to 56) completed a battery of validated self-report measures relating to their past traumatic experiences. Participants also completed two original self-report measures designed to provide insight about (1) where stress tends to manifest in their body and (2) communicative settings of participants' past trauma.

Results: Six participants (21%) self-identified a predictable laryngeal and/or vocal response to acute stress and thus comprise the laryngoresponders group. Laryngoresponders exhibited worse scores on 75% of all trauma-related variables compared to non-laryngoresponders, and Emotional Neglect was disproportionately represented in laryngoresponders. Participants with a reported history of childhood Emotional Neglect (83% of laryngoresponders, 35% of nonlaryngoresponders) reported quantitatively "less ideal" communication experiences in the context of past traumatic experiences.

Conclusions: Other investigators identify the larynx as a "vulnerable body pathway" for some women. This pilot study of adult women without voice complaints revealed several commonalities amongst self-reported laryngoresponders, and compels further exploration of the voice-trauma relationship.

Keywords: Functional voice disorder; Laryngoresponder; Trauma; Voice.