title: Effects of intensive voice treatment (the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment [LSVT]) on ataxic dysarthria: a case study.
abstract: This study examined the effects of intensive voice treatment (the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment [LSVT]) on ataxic dysarthria in a woman with cerebellar dysfunction secondary to thiamine deficiency. Perceptual and acoustic measures were made on speech samples recorded just before the LSVT program was administered, immediately after it was administered, and at 9 months follow-up. Results indicate short- and long-term improvement in phonatory and articulatory functions, speech intelligibility, and overall communication and job-related activity following LSVT. This study's findings provide initial support for the application of LSVT to the treatment of speech disorders accompanying ataxic dysarthria. Potential neural mechanisms that may underlie the effects of loud phonation and LSVT are addressed.
authors.affiliation: University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Shimon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sapir
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spielman
authors.forename: Lorraine O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Ramig
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hinds
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Countryman
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Brad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Story
mesh_terms: D001259:Ataxia / Q000150:complications*; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000145:classification* / Q000379:methods*; D014833:Voice Quality; D014834:Voice Training