The purpose of this study is to assess subjects with muscle tension dysphonia for perceived effort and acoustic effects of gargle phonation compared to baseline and a sham water swallow.

This study assesses perceived effort following baseline talking, water swallows and gargle phonation. In addition to perceived effort, acoustic and perceptual analyses will be conducted on the recorded voice samples using vowel sounds, the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) and Hearing in Noise Sentences (HINT).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must have a primary or secondary muscle tension dysphonia based clinical assessment with a Mayo clinic speech language pathologist or other Mayo Clinic otolaryngology care provider in Rochester or Phoenix/Scottsdale locations.
• Age 18 through 89.
• Able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Anyone not meeting inclusion criteria.
• Anyone unable or unwilling to provide informed consent.
• Anyone unable to complete questionnaires or participate in voice recording.
• Anyone with severe neurological voice or speech disorders.
• Moderate or severe dysphagia for thin liquids.
• Non-English speakers (English as a second language may be included).
• Extensive laryngeal surgery or other surgery or medical condition that may significantly alter the motor or sensory aspects of the larynx.