Pausing in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease

Jordynn Koroschetz, M.A., CCC-SLP

A common impairment observed in the speech of individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the presence of inappropriate silences or pauses. The purpose of this study is to assess pausing patterns in the speech of adults with PD compared to adults without PD. This study will look at descriptive and respiratory measures across a variety of pause types (e.g., breath pauses, non-breath pauses, silent pauses, filled pauses, and marked pauses) in order to gain insight into the mechanisms that drive pausing behavior in these populations. Findings from this study may inform future research aimed at developing targeted treatment approaches for the speech of people with PD.

The Effects of Combined SpeechVive and EMST Treatment for Hypokinetic Dysarthria

Ellie Schieltz, M.A., CF-SLP

People with hypokinetic dysarthria resulting from Parkinson’s Disease are known to have a softer voice and different respiratory patterns than healthy adults. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is improvement in respiratory patterns and volume from pairing expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) and SpeechVive. SpeechVive is a prosthetic device that has been shown to make individuals louder, and EMST increases expiratory muscle strength. By improving the respiratory patterns, speech could become easier to produce for individuals with PD so they may communicate more effectively.

Long Term Effectiveness of the SpeechVive Prosthesis

Hailey Robson, B.A., Psychology

Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) frequently exhibit decreased loudness when speaking due to disease related factors. This change in their ability to speak at a typical volume and be understood by others can have a negative impact on their self-esteem and social interaction. The purpose of this study is to assess the long-term effectiveness of the SpeechVive prosthesis, a device that has been found to increase a speaker’s loudness when in use. This study is focused on respiratory changes individuals with PD exhibit with continued, long-term use of the SpeechVive and if speakers are able to maintain the increase in loudness over an extended period of time. The long-term usage of this device has not previously been studied, and this study seeks to provide more insight into the long-term effectiveness of the SpeechVive as an intervention for individuals with PD that experience decreased loudness, and the respiratory changes each participant demonstrates due to continued use of the device.