Wikipedia talk:Articles for deletion/Hemi-laryngopharyngeal spasm

I was responsible for producing the Wikipedia page concerning hemi-laryngopharyngeal spasm and I would like to argue why it should not be deleted. I believe the editor’s concerns included the following:

1. The article is an effort to promote our own research, 2. The references are to our own publications, and 3. The prevalence and incidence of HeLPS is unknown.

First, it is important to understand that hemi-laryngopharyngeal spasm (HeLPS) is a disease and not original research. Wikipedia’s encyclopedic information includes details on almost all human diseases. These include those conditions that are due to compression of a cranial nerve. For example, trigeminal neuralgia is due to compression of the 5th cranial nerve, hemifacial spasm is due to compression of the 7th cranial nerve, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia is due to compression of the 9th cranial nerve. All of these diseases have Wikipedia pages. Hemi-laryngopharyngeal spasm (HeLPS) belongs to that family of diseases because it is a condition due to compression of the 10th cranial nerve. The articles published on HeLPS have been done in peer reviewed medical journals. This allows for verification – one of the core content policies of Wikipedia. We deliberately waited until the condition was recognized by the medical community (i.e. peer-reviewed publication) before submitting the information to Wikipedia. “Original Research” on the other hand, refers to material for which no reliable published sources exist. The HeLPS Wikipedia page is therefore not original research – another of the core content policies for Wikipedia.

Second, the editor is correct that the references are to our own publications. HeLPS was only recently discovered in 2016 and therefore there is not a lot of literature about the condition. I have added to the webpage that the condition has yet to be confirmed by another academic team of surgeons. As more individuals are recognized with HeLPS, additional publications will follow and we hope to update the Wikipedia page. Unfortunately, the main difficulty with the diagnosis of HeLPS is that it has been misdiagnosed as a psychiatric condition and patients never get to a neurosurgeon for potential curative surgery. We hope that more widespread recognition, partially through Wikipedia, will correct this. Patients are looking for answers to their ‘incurable’ conditions and are turning more and more to the internet for answers. We do not expect this Wikipedia page to substitute for a thorough neurological examination but it may point patients in the correct direction.

Third, we do not know the incidence or prevalence of hemi-laryngopharyngeal spasm. It is clearly rare but that should not exclude it from Wikipedia. It may be similar to that of glossopharyngeal neuralgia but that would be conjecture at this point and we wanted more data before providing this information. We are new to Wikipedia and therefore followed the style of the Wikipedia page for trigeminal neuralgia – which included a section on incidence and prevalence.

Finally, this work is categorically not self-promotion or an effort to promote our own research. As a tenured professor with a fixed salaried, there is no financial gain from this work. We followed the WHO guidelines for naming new human diseases and avoided any self-promotion. We do not receive grant funding or industry support for this work. We would like the information about this new human disease to be available to the public. Wikipedia is an important source of knowledge for the public and I hope the editor will consider keeping this page. Drcrhoney (talk) 19:31, 14 April 2020 (UTC)

Nomination to keep Hemi-laryngopharyngeal spasm article
I am a research coordinator at UBC and am interested in hemi-laryngopharyngeal spasm (HeLPS). I further agree that this article should not be deleted, as I believe that having this platform on Wikipedia allows for increased public awareness of HeLPS. Furthermore, it is beneficial from a patient perspective, as it allows for them to have a better understanding of their condition. As Wikipedia is an easily accessible venue for patients to reference, it will allow for further understanding and awareness of HeLPS and the impact that it may have on those affected. In my research, I am often asked by patients for an easily accessible internet source outlining their condition, and this Wikipedia page will provide a good resource for them. This page further acts as a platform for us to recruit patients and to help them get a reference so that they are able to get the treatment that they need. As patients are more frequently turning to the internet for information about their symptoms and conditions, I believe that this page will be highly beneficial to those who are struggling to either find a diagnosis or to better understand their diagnosis. Leahpoly (talk) 20:17, 20 April 2020 (UTC)