Effect of thalamotomy and levodopa therapy on the speech of Parkinson patients.
The speech of three groups of Parkinson patients--nonsurgical, postunilateral and postbilateral thalamotomy--was evaluated. Dysarthria, bulbar motility and pyramidal tract indexes were determined for each patient. There was a statistically significant greater impairment in dysarthria and pyramidal tract indexes of patients with thalamotomy. L-Dopa and carbidopa therapy failed to significantly improve speech in any group.
D000368:Aged; D001037:Aphasia / Q000209:etiology; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013060:Speech; D013788:Thalamus / Q000601:surgery*; D014797:Vital Capacity
D007980:Levodopa; D002230:Carbidopa