BACKGROUND
The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) has been demonstrated in multiple studies to improve the symptoms of dysphagia and dysarthria in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other neurological disorders through the process of motor learning and intensive intervention.
OBJECTIVE
Efficacy of intensive voice therapy in improving speech and swallowing functions was investigated in adults with cerebral palsy (CP).
METHODS
Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), a speech-behavior therapy, was performed on 16 subjects with CP (men:women= 9:7; mean age= 43.4±10.43 years) via an in-person program of an extended version of LSVT (LSVT-X), and a telepractice program of LSVT-X (LSVT e-LOUD-X). Maximum phonation time (MPT), voice intensity, diadochokinetic rate (DDK), Voice Handicap Index (VHI), swallowing-quality of life (SWAL-QOL), and Videofluoroscopic Dysphagia Scale (VDS) were analyzed before and after the LSVT treatments.
RESULTS
Speech function significantly improved in MPT (P = .006), voice intensity (P = .004), DDK /puh/ (P = .043), and DDK /puh-tuh-kuh/ (P = .031). Swallowing function significantly improved in pharyngeal phase on the VDS. Quality of life was also improved in physical (P = .003), emotional (P = .000), total score of VHI (P = .001), fear (P = .031), sleep (P = .013), fatigue (P = .003), and total score of SWAL-QOL (P = .019). Such improvements were observed in both LSVT-X and LSVT e-LOUD-X groups.
CONCLUSIONS
LSVT-X and LSVT e-LOUD-X are equally effective in improving speech and swallowing functions and related quality of life measures in adults with CP.
CLINICALTRIAL
This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board (No. 4-2021-1009).