Parakinesis of vocal cords is presently a rare disease in the area of laryngology and phoniatrics. It becomes manifest as a spastic occlusion of first two thirds of glottis, either in inspiration, expiration or in both phases of respiration and is accompanied with stridor. The simultaneous paradox movements of vocal cords may affect phonation, when the vocal cords are in abduction position and the conditions results in aphonia. The disease, which is by farmore frequent in the shape of inspiration spasm of vocal cords, has been observed by pneumologists and allergologists, who refer to the defect as dysfunction of vocal cords. It is most frequently encountered in corticoid-resistant asthmatic patients and not infrequently simulates asthma. Parakinesis and similar conditions are also observed is some psychiatric diagnoses. Typical for these patients is that the difficulties disappear during sleep. In order to exclude somatic causes it is possible to classify the disease into somatoform dysfunctions. The therapeutic strategy is based in early psychotherapy and rehabilitation of breathing, supportive pharmacological therapy, while intubation should be exceptional in conjunction with another form of dyspnoe as well as tracheotomy, provided it was indicated at all, should be replaced by temporary laterofixation.

        Key words: dyspnoe, parakinesis of vocal cords, inspiration spasm of vocal cords, vocal cords dysfunction .