Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of video call-based speech therapy for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) with speech problems.

Background: PD patients commonly have speech problems, negatively affecting their quality of life and burden their caregivers. Intensive speech treatments that increase vocal effort and loudness are effective in managing speech problems in PD patients, but frequent visits are required, which can be difficult for patients due to distance constraints and transportation difficulties. Online speech therapy via video call is explored as an alternative for PD patients.

Method: A prospective, non-randomized, open-label comparative study was conducted between July and September 2021. PD patients with speech problems were recruited from Seoul National University Hospital divided into two groups based on their ability to visit the hospital frequently: online speech therapy via video call and in-person therapy. Patients received 12 sessions of 50-minute speech therapy focused on respiration and phonation. Acoustic assessments, auditory-perceptual assessment, and voice handicap index (K-VHI10) were evaluated at baseline, post-therapy, and follow-up evaluation.

Results: Eleven patients were enrolled, one from the online group dropped out, for ten completed the therapy (five in each group) without missing a session. The mean age was 65.6 ± 8.2 years old, and the mean disease duration was 7.5 ± 8.0 years. The modified Hoehn and Yahr scale ranged from 1 to 3 (mean 2.05 ± 0.69). At the post-therapy evaluation, any acoustic measurements did not differ significantly between the two groups. In the follow-up evaluation, the effect of therapy remained the same. Additionally, both group showed decrease in jitter, and an increase in the intensity of vowel of /a/ and reading. There was no difference in auditory perceptual measurement between the two groups, and both showed improvement in overall loudness after therapy. K-VHI10 decreased significantly from baseline to post-therapy and further decreased at follow-up in both groups, with no significant difference between two groups.

Conclusion: This study showed that the online speech therapy conducted via video call is feasible and as effective as the in-person therapy for PD patients with speech problems making it a viable alternative for PD patients.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/the-feasibility-and-efficacy-of-speech-therapy-via-video-call-in-patients-with-parkinsons-disease-a-preliminary-study/