In a nutshell
This study compared two speech treatments in patients with Parkinson´s disease with voice symptoms. Researchers suggested that Lee Silverman voice treatment (LSVT LOUD) is a more effective method when compared to articulation treatment (LSVT ART) in these patients.
Some background
Around 89% of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience speech problems. These may include voice disorders such as reduced loudness or harsh voice and articulation disorders such as difficulty in articulating specific types of sounds. LSVT LOUD has been used since the 1990´s in these patients.
LSVT LOUD is a very intensive treatment that focuses on the voice. Prior studies comparing LSVT LOUD and conventional speech treatment showed that LSVT LOUD produced immediate and long-term improvements. Articulatory movements (LSVT ART; movement of the tongue, lips, and jaw) can also affect voice loudness. Thus, treatment of the ART could have an even greater effect in the voice symptoms. Which type of speech treatment is the most effective in patients with PD remains under investigation.
Methods & findings
This study included 64 patients with PD and speech problems. They were selected randomly to receive LSVT LOUD (22), LSVT ART (20) or no speech treatment (22). Speech was evaluated at the beginning of the study, at 1 and 7 months after treatment.
At 1 and 7 months, pressure levels (in reading and spontaneous speech) showed greater improvements for the LSVT LOUD group when compared to LSVT ART. LSVT LOUD was also associated with improved voice loudness.
There were significant improvements in communication with both ART and LOUD treatments as compared to no treatment after 1 month. These improvements were maintained at 7 months only for the LSVT LOUD group.
The bottom line
This study determined that LSVT LOUD is associated with greater improvements when compared to LSVT ART.
The fine print
This study did not include patients with severe Parkinson´s disease.
What’s next?
Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about speech symptoms.
Published By :
Movement disorders: official journal of the Movement Disorder Society
Date :
Sep 28, 2018
