Spasmodic Dysphonia - poor voice quality
 

Has anyone been diagnosed or know any pilot who has dealt with spasmodic dysphonia? It is a neurological condition where an individual will have occasional uncontrolled spasms of his/her vocal cords causing poor voice quality such as choppy, fluctuating, strangled voice when speaking. Unfortunately, there is no cure for spasmodic dysphonia, but there is a short term option such as botox injections directly into the neck to relax the vocal cord muscles which last about 3 months. Another option is surgery, but there is not any long term results history for this procedure yet.

I am afraid if the FAA finds out of my visits to a speech pathologist and neurologist, and/or botox injections in the neck, I could potentially bring on an unwanted medical investigation and revocation!!

I searched the FAA website and found an article discussing an ATP pilot suffering from voice choppiness and voice fade. The article stated a pilot should remove himself from flight status because communication with ATC is vital. On another page, I read the FAA has the ultimate authority on any perceived medical ailment. What should I do? :eek:

legally u r required to report

shhhhh....

If you have not had an FAA medical since this began then you will need to report it on your next medical. You probably need to see your AME before you unground yourself...you can unground yourself after recovering from simple ailments like the flu, but probably not for something like that.

If you have already had an FAA medical and did not disclose this, then better talk to a lawyer. Some people would just hope the FAA never finds out.

Thank you for the responses. My medical is due in a couple of months. I think I will take some more time on my decision to self disclose. My symptoms are minor and would take a 10 minute conversation for someone to notice the slight uncontrolled deviations in my voice. I certainly hesitate to proceed with additional medical tests, even though I would like to seek proper treatment, but after a 4 year aviation degree and the cost of a private license through ATP plus additional "fun" ratings, I am not willing to risk my investment just yet.

If anyone has dealt with spasmodic dysphonia before, please advise on how you communicated this with your AME, the FAA, and what the final outcome was!

Thanks

it may be a sign of something else . . . i doubt (sic) a good ame will miss it. U imply being young of age. get it checked ou and do not let the faa tail wag the health (yours) dog!

A quote from a letter from the FAA will go something like this:
"You are cautioned to abide by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR's), Section 61.53, relating to physical deficiency, medication, or treatment."

You are taking a risk by not disclosing - both professionally, legally, and with your/and others' safety should your speech problem inhibit clear and concise communication and the worse possible moment.

USMCFLYR

A friend was run over by a truck while motorcycling...voicebox crushed...talks with kind of loud whisper, like very bad laryngitis. You could still understand him in a 727(loud) cockpit, and actually easier over the radio. People always think he has a bad cold.
I mention this because people had told him he could never work for an airline because of this condition.

Britney Spears uses her spasmodic dysphonia to help her sing. It doesn't have to be a grounding disability.