Background: Speech therapy is highly effective for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who have speech difficulties; however, its accessibility is limited. Online video-call speech therapy has been explored as an alternative option for PD patients.
Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of video-call speech therapy for PD patients.
Methods: This prospective, comparative study was conducted between July and September 2022. PD patients with speech difficulties were divided into two groups, online speech therapy via video call and in-person therapy at hospital, based on their willingness to visit the hospital frequently. The patients underwent 12 sessions of speech therapy, focusing on respiration and phonation. Acoustic assessments, auditory-perceptual assessment, and voice handicap index (K-VHI10) were evaluated at baseline, post-therapy, and follow-up.
Results: Eleven patients were enrolled in the study, though one patient from the online group withdrew. Ten patients completed the therapy (five in each group) without missing a session. The baseline acoustic measurements did not differ between the two groups. After therapy, both group showed an increase in voice intensity and improvement in overall loudness. The post-therapy change from baseline in the acoustic measurements was not significantly different between the two groups. The effect of therapy were maintained in the follow-up evaluation in both groups. The K-VHI10 decreased significantly from baseline to post-therapy and further at follow-up in both groups, with no significant difference between two groups.
Conclusion: The online speech therapy via video call is feasible in PD patients with speech difficulties and as effective as in-person therapy.
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