The typical variant of spasmodic dysphonia in which the spasms (and their effect on the voice) are intermittent rather than sustained. Classic variant spasmodic dysphonia is much more common and more easily diagnosed than tonic variant spasmodic dysphonia.

Classic variant spasmodic dysphonia is easier to diagnose because its intermittent spasms cause noticeable phonatory arrests: in the case of adductor spasmodic dysphonia, words or syllables are momentarily choked off; in the case of abductor spasmodic dysphonia, words or syllables momentarily drop out to a whisper.