A recent clinical trial conducted by the University of Nottingham has revealed that the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUDĀ®) is more effective in treating Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients compared to the standard speech and language therapy usually provided.
The results of the trial, funded by NIHR HTA and published in the BMJ, demonstrated that LSVT LOUDĀ® was more successful in reducing the impact of voice problems reported by participants than both no speech therapy and the standard NHS speech therapy.
The research was a collaborative effort involving experts from the Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, Sandwell and Dudley Hospital Trust, University College London, King’s College London, the University of Bangor, Canterbury Christ Church University, and Glasgow Caledonian University.
Conducted by NHS Speech and Language Therapy services across the UK and analyzed by the Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Birmingham, the study was led by Professor Catherine Sackley from the School of Health Sciences and the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre.
The study emphasized the negative impact that speech and communication difficulties can have on individuals with PD, leading to feelings of isolation and hindering daily activities. Professor Sackley highlighted the significance of identifying effective treatment options to enhance patients’ quality of life.
The trial involved participants recruited from 40 NHS sites across the UK, who were divided into three groups: one receiving LSVT LOUDĀ®, one receiving standard NHS therapy, and a third group receiving no therapy.
LSVT LOUDĀ® is a speech treatment method aimed at training individuals with PD to speak at a more regular volume in various settings, while the NHS therapy is a personalized program delivered over a shorter period than LSVT LOUDĀ®, resulting in lower intensity.
The study included 388 PD patients with Dysarthria who participated between September 2016 and March 2020. The LSVT LOUDĀ® group received four weekly sessions for four weeks, coupled with home practice, while the NHS therapy group received therapy every other week over an 11-week period.
Results indicated that LSVT LOUDĀ® was more effective in reducing the impact of Dysarthria compared to no therapy and the standard NHS therapy, which showed no discernible benefits over no therapy.
Adrian Wrigley, a PD patient, emphasized the importance of speech therapy research in improving communication and reducing anxiety among individuals with Parkinson’s.
The study was supported by the National Institute for Health Research, Health Technology Assessment programme.
