1. Was there a plausible rationale for the study? (In your response, specify the rationale for the study and expand upon why or why not you feel that it was plausible)
Yes; In individuals with idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease (PD), roughly 90% of people experience accompanying voice and speech problems. The Lee-Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT-LOUD) has been shown to an effective behavioral treatment for such deficits. It has also been demonstrated through recent literature that the use of deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) to treat PD symptoms has been associated with improvement in various aspects of motor function related to speech production. While there are a number of studies supporting the efficacy of STN-DBS on …show more content…
69).” Based on this definition, this particular study meets the requirements of being “experimental” in design. There were a total of 12 subjects, all of which with PD, who participated in this study. The experimental group was comprised of eight of the subjects, four of which had received STN-DBS and four of which had not, who were administered LSVT-LOUD treatment four times a week for a duration of four weeks. The control group was comprised of four additional subjects with PD, who received no treatment for the duration of the study. Data was collected on the following parameters before (PRE) treatment, after (POST) treatment, and six months later (FU); voice intensity or Sound Pressure Level (SPL), Vowel Articulation Index (VAI), the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and a structured interview.
3. Was there a control group condition?
Yes; As mentioned above, four of the non-surgical participants were placed in an untreated control group …show more content…
For example, it stands to reason that patients who have undergone STN-DBS may have more severe symptoms associated with PD than the participants who have not received STN-DBS; therefore, in order to minimize differences in performance that my be attributed to certain factors, the eight subjects who participated in this study who had not received STN-DBS were selected from the larger pool of potential participants based on parameters such as stage of PD, time since diagnosis, severity of symptoms, etc. All of the subjects initially reported that they had not received any form of voice or speech therapy before entering the study. However, it was later discovered throughout the course of the study, one participant had in fact previously undergone speech therapy. Each subject, those receiving treatment and those not receiving treatment, were prohibited from participating in additional therapy until after their six-month follow-ups. Participants were excluded from the study if they presented with severe depression, significant hearing loss, signs of dementia, laryngeal deficits, were left-hand dominant, or suffered neurological complications as a direct results of receiving STN-DBS. Additionally, participant’s medications were regulated. However, one subject began self-regulating her own medication during the course of the study and was eventually taken off that particular medication
Yes; In individuals with idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease (PD), roughly 90% of people experience accompanying voice and speech problems. The Lee-Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT-LOUD) has been shown to an effective behavioral treatment for such deficits. It has also been demonstrated through recent literature that the use of deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) to treat PD symptoms has been associated with improvement in various aspects of motor function related to speech production. While there are a number of studies supporting the efficacy of STN-DBS on …show more content…
69).” Based on this definition, this particular study meets the requirements of being “experimental” in design. There were a total of 12 subjects, all of which with PD, who participated in this study. The experimental group was comprised of eight of the subjects, four of which had received STN-DBS and four of which had not, who were administered LSVT-LOUD treatment four times a week for a duration of four weeks. The control group was comprised of four additional subjects with PD, who received no treatment for the duration of the study. Data was collected on the following parameters before (PRE) treatment, after (POST) treatment, and six months later (FU); voice intensity or Sound Pressure Level (SPL), Vowel Articulation Index (VAI), the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and a structured interview.
3. Was there a control group condition?
Yes; As mentioned above, four of the non-surgical participants were placed in an untreated control group …show more content…
For example, it stands to reason that patients who have undergone STN-DBS may have more severe symptoms associated with PD than the participants who have not received STN-DBS; therefore, in order to minimize differences in performance that my be attributed to certain factors, the eight subjects who participated in this study who had not received STN-DBS were selected from the larger pool of potential participants based on parameters such as stage of PD, time since diagnosis, severity of symptoms, etc. All of the subjects initially reported that they had not received any form of voice or speech therapy before entering the study. However, it was later discovered throughout the course of the study, one participant had in fact previously undergone speech therapy. Each subject, those receiving treatment and those not receiving treatment, were prohibited from participating in additional therapy until after their six-month follow-ups. Participants were excluded from the study if they presented with severe depression, significant hearing loss, signs of dementia, laryngeal deficits, were left-hand dominant, or suffered neurological complications as a direct results of receiving STN-DBS. Additionally, participant’s medications were regulated. However, one subject began self-regulating her own medication during the course of the study and was eventually taken off that particular medication