ISCA Archive ICSLP 2002
ISCA Archive ICSLP 2002

Oro-facial changes in parkinson²s disease following intensive voice therapy (LSVT)

Jennifer L. Spielman, Lorraine O. Ramig, Joan C. Borod

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is associated with multiple communication deficits which affect both verbal and nonverbal abilities, including vocal loudness, articulatory precision, and facial expression. This paper addresses the effects of intensive voice therapy (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment, LSVT) on communicative acts in PD involving significant oro-facial movement, specifically speech articulation and spontaneous facial expression. Both acoustic measurements and perceptual judgments are presented. The underlying mechanisms thought to be responsible for treatment-related changes are proposed and discussed.