Efficacy of intensive Respiratory- Phonatory Treatment (LSVT) for Parkinson s patients: A case report

Background and Aim : The patients with Parkinson s disease (PD) have vocal fold bowing and glottal gap subsequently. For this reason, their vocal loudness is reduced. The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) is a treatment for speech disorders associated with Parkinson s disease that focuses on increasing vocal loudness [sound pressure level (SPL)] and intelligibility. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of intensive respiratory-phonatory treatment (LSVT) for glottal incompetence associated with Parkinson s disease.Methods : One dysartric patient with Parkinson s disease (67 years old) who had vocal fold bowing received 4 weeks of the LSVT. Stroboscopic examination, phonatory function measurement, acoustical analyses, and perceptual judgments of voice were obtained at baseline and 4 weeks post-treatment. Stroboscopic examination was conducted during sustained vowel /i/ phonation at a habitual level of pitch and loudness and during a pitch glide. This task was recorded at two different situations: just prior to treatment and after 4 weeks of treatment. Change in vocal function was measured by means of acoustic analyses (vocal intensity, maximum phonation time and pitch range) of voice loudness during 16 treatment sessions.Results : The patient showed significant improvement in glottal closure, phonatory function and acoustic features (vocal intensity, maximum phonation time and pitch range) after treatment.Conclusion : These findings provide evidence that patient with Parkinson s disease who had vocal fold bowing and dysphonia may improve glottal competence and increase vocal loudness eventually after the LSVT.

کلیدواژه ها:

Parkinson s disease ، LSVT ، Vocal loudness ، glottal incompetence