Innovative technology for the assisted delivery of intensive voice treatment (LSVT®LOUD) for Parkinson disease.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a newly developed assistive technology system, Lee Silverman Voice Treatment Companion (LSVT(®) Companion™, hereafter referred to as "Companion"), to support the delivery of LSVT(®)LOUD, an efficacious speech intervention for individuals with Parkinson disease (PD).


METHODS
Sixteen individuals with PD were randomized to an immediate (n = 8) or a delayed (n = 8) treatment group. They participated in 9 LSVT LOUD sessions and 7 Companion sessions, independently administered at home. Acoustic, listener perception, and voice and speech rating data were obtained immediately before (pre), immediately after (post), and at 6 months post treatment (follow-up). System usability ratings were collected immediately post treatment. Changes in vocal sound pressure level were compared to data from a historical treatment group of individuals with PD treated with standard, in-person LSVT LOUD.


RESULTS
All 16 participants were able to independently use the Companion. These individuals had therapeutic gains in sound pressure level, pre to post and pre to follow-up, similar to those of the historical treatment group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study supports the use of the Companion as an aid in treatment of hypokinetic dysarthria in individuals with PD. Advantages and disadvantages of the Companion, as well as limitations of the present study and directions for future studies, are discussed.
University of Colorado at Boulder, USA. angela.halpern@lsvtglobal.com
Angela E
AE
Halpern
Lorraine O
LO
Ramig
Carlos E C
CE
Matos
Jill A
JA
Petska-Cable
Jennifer L
JL
Spielman
Janice M
JM
Pogoda
Phillip M
PM
Gilley
Shimon
S
Sapir
John K
JK
Bennett
David H
DH
McFarland
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications*; D010700:Phonetics; D013060:Speech; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014834:Voice Training