Intensive speech treatment for patients with Parkinson's disease

TLDR

The study evaluated the 12‑month effects of two speech treatments on speech and voice deficits in Parkinson’s disease. Thirty‑five idiopathic Parkinson’s patients were randomized to either the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) or a placebo respiration treatment. LSVT patients maintained or improved vocal intensity through 12 months, whereas the placebo group showed significant deterioration, marking the first documentation of short‑ and long‑term benefits of intensive speech therapy in Parkinson’s. NEUROLOGY 1996;47:1496‑1504.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term (12 months) effects of two forms of speech treatment on the speech and voice deficits that occur in Parkinson9s disease. Thirty-five patients with idiopathic Parkinson9s disease were assigned to one of two speech treatment groups: voice and respiration (The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment [LSVT]) or placebo (respiration) treatment. Vocal intensity data from before, immediately after, and at 6 and 12 months after speech treatment revealed statistically significant differences between the treatment groups. Only subjects in the LSVT group improved or maintained vocal intensity above pretreatment levels by 12 months after treatment. The placebo group had statistically significant deterioration of vocal intensity levels from before to 12 months after treatment during conversational monologue. The LSVT group did not deteriorate to levels below pretreatment in vocal intensity over the 12-month period. This study is the first to document the short- and long-term effects of intensive speech treatment (LSVT), which focuses on the voice, for patients with Parkinson9s disease compared with a placebo speech treatment group. <b>NEUROLOGY 1996;47: </b> 1496-1504