Analysis of national scientific production on laryngeal focal dystonia

Abstract

Purpose: to analyze part of Brazilian Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences and Medical Sciences production on focal laryngeal dystonia, between the years of 1980 and 2010. Method: characterize all papers found in Brasilian specialized journals about focal laryngeal distonia considering: publication period; distribution per period; themes; methodological procedure; epistemological filiations; the areas of Medical and Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences to which the production belongs. Results: 37 articles were found: 14(37.8%) in Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences papers and 23(62.2%) in medical papers. The publications were mainly concentrated in this fi rst decade of the XXI century. Seven themes were found, the most frequent ones: characterization of dystonia and effect of botulinum toxin use with 13(35.1%) articles each. Regarding the epistemological fi liations 36(97.3%) papers were positivist. Regarding the areas all the Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences works, 14(37.8%), were about Voice; in the Medical areas 14 (60.8%) were about Neurology; 8(34.7%) about Otorinolaryngology and 1(4.4%) about Endocrinology. Regarding the methodological procedure 13(35.1%) were Experimental Studies; 11(29.7%) Clinical Case Studies; 9(24.3%) Literature Studies and 4(10.8%) Data Collection Studies. Conclusion: The analysis of Brazilian Speech-Language and Hearing Sciences and Medical Sciences production on focal laryngeal dystonia between the years of 1980 and 2010 showed that experimental studies about the effect of botulinum toxin use on the vocal chords functioning were the most frequent and that positivism was the hegemonic epistemological filiation.