CURRENT RESEARCH
It is estimated that 75-89% of patients with Idiopathic Parkinson Disease (IPD) experience voice disorders and reduced ability to communicate clearly. In fact, many people with IPD report that the reduced ability to communicate is one of the most difficult aspects of Parkinson Disease.
It is also known that only 3-4% of people with IPD who have voice disorders receive speech therapy.
Why? In the past, speech therapy often focused on rate and articulation to improve intelligibility of those with IPD. There is little published data to indicate that improvements made in the treatment room carried over to real life situations.
What has changed? Around 15 years ago, a group of researchers began looking at what aspects of speech therapy would prove effective for a patient with IPD. Out of their research came the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment program, now called LSVT-Loud. This is an intensive speech therapy program that is delivered for one hour daily for four consecutive days per week for four weeks. Outcome studies have demonstrated that those who receive LSVT-Loud make significant improvements in their ability to communicate verbally. Furthermore, those gains have been shown to remain for two years post-therapy.
Fox, Cynthia, Morrison, C., Ramig, L., Sapir, S. (2002) Current Perspectives on the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) for Individuals with Idiopathic Parkinson Disease.
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology,11, 111-123.