Delivering group speech maintenance therapy via telerehabilitation to people with Parkinson’s disease: A pilot study

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the feasibility of delivering a group speech maintenance programme (eLoud and Proud) to people with Parkinson’s disease via telerehabilitation.
Method: Treatment was delivered to eight participants who had previously received LSVT LOUD®. The programme focussed on using a “loud” voice within conversational and cognitively loaded tasks, and was delivered in two 90-minute sessions per week for four weeks. Data pertaining to sound pressure level (SPL) (for sustained phonation, reading and monologue tasks), maximum frequency range, maximum phonation duration and impact of dysarthria on quality of life were collected at three time points: (1) pre-treatment (PRE); (2) immediately post-treatment (POST); and (3) three months post-treatment (FU). Participant satisfaction with telerehabilitation was also obtained at POST.
Result: Significant improvements were identified for all SPL measures PRE-POST and maintained for sustained phonation and reading tasks at FU. No significant differences were identified for the remaining outcome measures. Participants were overall highly satisfied with telerehabilitation and considered it to be an acceptable alternative to traditional service delivery.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated the feasibility of delivering group speech maintenance therapy via telerehabilitation, and the potential for eLoud and Proud to improve and maintain vocal loudness in people with PD.

研究目的：本研究旨在明确通过远程康复（telerehabilitation）为帕金森病（Parkinson’s disease）患者实施团体语音维持方案eLoud and Proud的可行性。研究方法：招募8名此前已接受LSVT LOUD®治疗的参与者开展本次治疗。本方案聚焦于在会话及认知负荷任务中使用“洪亮”嗓音，以每周2次、每次90分钟的频次连续开展4周。研究在三个时间点采集相关数据：(1) 治疗前（PRE）；(2) 治疗结束即刻（POST）；(3) 治疗后3个月（随访FU）。采集指标涵盖持续发声、阅读及独白任务下的声压级（sound pressure level, SPL）、最大频率范围、最长发声时长，以及构音障碍对生活质量的影响。此外，在POST阶段收集了参与者对远程康复的满意度评价。研究结果：所有声压级指标在PRE-POST阶段均出现显著改善，且持续发声与阅读任务的改善效果在FU阶段得以维持。其余结局指标未发现显著差异。参与者整体对远程康复满意度极高，认为其可作为传统服务模式的可接受替代方案。研究结论：本研究证实了通过远程康复实施团体语音维持治疗的可行性，同时证明eLoud and Proud方案可改善并维持帕金森病患者的嗓音洪亮度。