title: Speech therapy and communication device: impact on quality of life and mood in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: Dysarthria has a drastic impact on the quality of life of ALS patients. Most patients suffering from dysarthria are offered speech therapy. Communication devices are prescribed less frequently. In the present study we investigated the impact of these therapeutic arrangements on quality of life in ALS patients. Thirty-eight ALS patients with dysarthria or anarthria, who underwent speech therapy and/or used communication devices answered three standardized questionnaires (Beck Depression Inventory - II (BDI), SF-36 Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36) and ALS Functional Rating Scale-revised (ALSFRS-R)) and were further interviewed about their experience with and benefit of speech therapy and communication devices. Most of the patients described a high impact of the communication device on their quality of life while the influence of speech therapy was rated less. By multiple regression analysis we confirmed an independent positive effect of communication device use on depression and psychological distress. In conclusion, communication systems improve or at least stabilize quality of life and mood in dysarthric ALS patients, and should be provided early in the disease course.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. Koerner.Sonja@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Körner
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sieniawski
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siniawski
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kollewe
authors.forename: Klaus Jan
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krampfl
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zapf
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dengler
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petri
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome