Parkinson's disease often causes speech and voice impairments, such as reduced vocal loudness and decreased speech intelligibility, which significantly impact the quality of life for patients and their families. The Lee Silverman Voice Therapy-LOUD (LSVT-LOUD) is a specialized, evidence-based speech therapy protocol designed to improve vocal function.
This study investigates the effectiveness of the LSVT-LOUD protocol in Turkish-speaking individuals with Parkinson's disease. The research evaluates objective changes in vocal loudness and speech quality, as well as the subjective therapy experiences of participants. By analyzing both clinical outcomes and patient feedback, this study aims to contribute to the clinical application and adaptation of LSVT-LOUD for the Turkish-speaking population
Inclusion Criteria:
Diagnosis: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (Hoehn and Yahr stages I-III).
Age: Individuals aged 40-80 years.
Language: Native Turkish speakers.
Cognitive Status: Sufficient cognitive function to participate in therapy (e.g., Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 24).
Communication: Presence of voice or speech impairment (e.g., hypophonia, reduced intelligibility) as confirmed by a speech-language pathologist.
Stability: Stable medication regimen for at least 1 month prior to the study initiation.
Exclusion Criteria:
Neurological Comorbidities: Presence of other significant neurological disorders (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis) or active voice disorders (e.g., vocal cord nodules, laryngeal cancer).
Hearing Impairment: Uncorrected hearing loss that would interfere with speech assessment or therapy.
Cognitive Impairment: Diagnosis of dementia or severe cognitive impairment that prevents participation in the intensive LSVT-LOUD protocol.
Recent Surgery: History of laryngeal surgery or deep brain stimulation (DBS) within the last 6 months.
Therapy History: Previous experience with LSVT-LOUD or intensive speech therapy within the past year.
aysenur.kocak@atlas.edu.tr
"Participants in this arm receive the standard Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT-LOUD) protocol. The intervention consists of intensive, high-effort vocal exercises designed to increase vocal loudness and improve speech intelligibility. The protocol is administered in 4 sessions per week, with each session lasting 60 minutes, over a total duration of 4 weeks. The therapy focuses on maximizing vocal output through calibrated exercises, including sustained phonation, pitch range exercises, and functional speech tasks. Additionally, participants are provided with carryover exercises to practice at home to ensure long-term maintenance of improved vocal and speech functions .
Participants in the control group receive standard medical care for Parkinson's disease, with no specific intensive speech therapy intervention provided during the study period
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