title: Treatment of dysarthria following subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) is an established treatment for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Speech impairment is a frequent side effect of the surgery. This study examined the efficacy of an intensive speech treatment, the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) on dysarthria after STN-DBS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The LSVT was administered to 10 patients with STN-DBS (surgical group) and 10 patients without (medical group). Patients were assessed before, immediately after, and 6 months following the speech treatment using sustained phonation, a speech intelligibility scale, and monologue. Vocal loudness, speech intelligibility, and perceptual ratings were the primary outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vocal loudness and perceptual scores improved significantly across tasks for the medical group only. Speech intelligibility did not significantly change for either group. Results in the surgical group were variable, with some patients deteriorating.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of dysarthria following STN-DBS needs further investigation because of the variable response to LSVT.
authors.affiliation: Sobell Department, Unit of Functional Neurosurgery, UCL, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, United Kingdom. e.tripoliti@ion.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Elina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tripoliti
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Strong
authors.forename: Freya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hickey
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Foltynie
authors.forename: Ludvic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zrinzo
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Candelario
authors.forename: Marwan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hariz
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Limousin
mesh_terms: D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome