Objective: To assess the use of Voice Range Profile(VRP) and Speech Range Profile(SRP) in the evaluation of patients with on and off Deep brain stimulation(DBS).

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) causes monotone voice with restricted frequency and intensity. DBS improvements the motor symptoms, but the impact on voice and speech are not well established.

Methods: 20patients with PD, stable on their medications, underwent DBS, mean surgery time 12.38(SD5.12)months, mean age 50(SD8.3)years, with vocal complaints and indication of speech therapy. Patients in ON and OFF stimulation conditions underwent clinical assessment through Vocalgrama Program (CTSComputers,1.5i), which were extracted the SRP (counting number from 20 up to 30 in soft, habitual, loud and very loud intensity levels) and VRP (singing vowel /ε/ in soft and loud voice levels).

Results: For VRP, there was a significant increase in vocal intensity in decibels(dB) for range of the loud, the minimum intensity of 69.55(SD16.75)dB to 79.93(SD20.82)dB(p=0.004) and maximum intensity of 90.00(SD17.91)dB to 99.41(SD15.76)dB(p=0.05) when in OFF state of the generator; already to the range of the soft, no significant change in the ON/OFF state. For SRP, the range of the soft, the OFF state of the generator, a significant increase in the maximum intensities of 66.00(SD6.73)dB to 70.24(SD4.54)dB(p=0.001); in the habitual range, increasing the maximum intensity of 69.44(SD9.37)dB to 74.71dB(SD8.49)dB(p=0.04); the loud and very loud range, there were no significant changes in ON and OFF conditions. Patients with DBS, when tested in OFF condition showed a significant increase in vocal intensity in both ranges of VRP (loud intensity) and the SRP (soft and habitual intensity levels), which contributed to improving the intelligibility of communication.The evaluation of voice through the VRP and SRP are important for clinical treatments, as the VRP reflects the maximum physiology while the SRP the natural use of the voice.

Conclusions: VRP and SRP show relevant aspects to understanding the limitations of the frequency and intensity of voice present in communication of patients, besides showing important differences in vocal function in ON/OFF states. The results suggest that the voice seems to be more appropriate in OFF condition, however, the symptoms deteriorate motors and trigger discomfort and functional limitations.

« Back to 2016 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/speech-and-voice-range-profile-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-with-deep-brain-stimulation-preliminary-data/