Listener Training for Parkinson's Disease

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Stephanie Borrie, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Utah State University

Disqualifiers: Severe cognitive impairment, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

360 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Listener Training for Parkinson's Disease?

Research on similar treatments, like the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT/LOUD), shows that training vocal loudness can improve speech and communication in Parkinson's patients. This suggests that Listener Training, which may involve similar auditory and vocal exercises, could also help improve communication for those with Parkinson's Disease. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Listener Training safe for humans?

There is no specific safety data available for Listener Training in the provided research articles. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

How does the Listener Training treatment for Parkinson's Disease differ from other treatments?

Listener Training is unique because it focuses on improving auditory processing and communication, which are often impaired in Parkinson's Disease. Unlike traditional treatments that primarily address motor symptoms, this approach targets non-motor symptoms by enhancing the ability to hear and understand speech, potentially improving overall communication and quality of life for patients. ^{1 10 11 12 13}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Listener training offers a promising avenue for improving communication for people with dysarthria due to Parkinson's disease by offsetting the intelligibility burden from the patient onto their primary communication partners. Here, we employ a repeated-measures, randomized controlled trial to establish the efficacy of listener training for patients with PD and their primary communication partners. This translational work will establish a new realm of clinical practice in which the intelligibility impairments in PD are addressed by training partners to better understand dysarthric speech, thus elevating communication outcomes and participation in daily life.

Research Team

Stephanie Borrie, PhD

Principal Investigator

Utah State University

Kaitlin Lansford, PhD

Principal Investigator

Florida State University

Sarah Yoho Leopold, PhD

Principal Investigator

Utah State University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for people with Parkinson's disease who have speech difficulties (dysarthria). It focuses on improving how well they are understood by training their main conversation partners. Participants must be diagnosed with Parkinson's and experience communication challenges.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

I have been diagnosed with a speech disorder known as hyperkinetic dysarthria.

Primary language is English

Exclusion Criteria

I have significant memory or thinking problems.

Primary language other than English

I am under 18 years old.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training

Listeners receive training to improve understanding of dysarthric speech from patients with Parkinson's Disease

4 weeks

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for retention of intelligibility improvements and other communication benefits

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person), 1 visit (virtual)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Listener Training

Trial Overview The study tests 'Listener Training' to see if it helps improve understanding of speech in those with dysarthria from Parkinson's. The trial randomly assigns participants to receive this training or not, measuring the effectiveness through repeated measures.

Participant Groups

Group I: Experimental Condition Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Listener receives speech of patient with dysarthria

Group II: Control condition Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Listener receives speech of speaker with no speech disorder

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Utah State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

48

Recruited

5,200+

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Collaborator

Trials

377

Recruited

190,000+

Florida State University

Collaborator

Trials

234

Recruited

41,100+

Findings from Research

In a study of 35 Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients and 35 age-matched controls, PD patients showed slightly worse sensorineural hearing loss, which can hinder communication, highlighting the need for early identification of auditory issues in this population.

Despite 77% of PD patients being suitable for hearing aids, only 26% actually used them, indicating a gap in the management of hearing loss that could improve communication with caregivers and healthcare providers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Auditory Processing Abilities of Parkinson's Disease Patients. Folmer, RL., Vachhani, JJ., Theodoroff, SM., et al.[2018]

A 59-year-old male with progressive supranuclear palsy showed significant improvements in speech rate, vocal intensity, and overall intelligibility after using a delayed auditory feedback device for three months.

The subject and his family reported high satisfaction with the device, suggesting it may be an effective tool for enhancing communication in individuals with speech disorders.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

DAF as instrumental treatment for dysarthria in progressive supranuclear palsy: a case report. Hanson, WR., Metter, EJ.[2019]

A study involving 20 participants with Parkinson's disease tested different biofeedback configurations using a portable voice accumulator (VoxLog) to improve vocal loudness during speech.

The optimal configuration for effective feedback was found to be activating when the speaker's volume fell below 3 dB of their average loudness, with a response time of 500 ms, achieving a feedback frequency of 21.2%.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Motor-Learning-Based Adjustment of Ambulatory Feedback on Vocal Loudness for Patients With Parkinson's Disease. Gustafsson, J., Ternström, S., Södersten, M., et al.[2022]

The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT/LOUD) has shown both short- and long-term efficacy in improving vocal loudness in individuals with Parkinson's disease, emphasizing the importance of training vocal amplitude and self-perception.

Training in vocal loudness not only enhances speech but also leads to improvements in articulation, facial expression, and swallowing, suggesting that focusing on a single target can have widespread benefits across different motor systems.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The science and practice of LSVT/LOUD: neural plasticity-principled approach to treating individuals with Parkinson disease and other neurological disorders. Fox, CM., Ramig, LO., Ciucci, MR., et al.[2022]

A wearable biofeedback device was developed to help patients with Parkinsonism improve their speech intensity outside of clinical settings, addressing a common challenge in speech therapy.

The study showed that patients were able to transfer significant improvements in their speech from the clinic to everyday situations while using the device, indicating its potential effectiveness for ongoing treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A microcomputer-based wearable biofeedback device to improve transfer of treatment in parkinsonian dysarthria. Rubow, R., Swift, E.[2019]

In a pilot study involving eight drivers with Parkinson's disease, a simulator training program showed a trend towards reduced crashes and significantly improved reaction times to potential crash risks over three driving sessions.

These results suggest that simulator training may be a feasible and beneficial intervention for improving driving safety in individuals with Parkinson's disease, warranting further research to explore its long-term effects and comparisons with standard driver education.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

COLLISION AVOIDANCE TRAINING USING A DRIVING SIMULATOR IN DRIVERS WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE: A PILOT STUDY. Dawson, JD., Rizzo, M., Anderson, SW., et al.[2021]

A review of 53 randomized controlled trials on exercise and motor training for Parkinson's disease showed that most interventions were effective and well-supervised, lasting an average of 8.3 weeks, with high participant retention rates (69% retained ≥85% of participants).

However, the lack of detailed reporting on adherence and adverse events in 72% of trials may hinder clinicians' ability to implement these programs effectively in practice, as they need to weigh the benefits against potential risks.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise and motor training in people with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review of participant characteristics, intervention delivery, retention rates, adherence, and adverse events in clinical trials. Allen, NE., Sherrington, C., Suriyarachchi, GD., et al.[2021]

A study involving 12 individuals with Parkinson's disease showed that progressive mobility training using external auditory cues significantly improved walking velocity, stride length, and cadence after 8 weeks of training.

Participants trained for 30 minutes per session, three times a week, and were able to maintain or increase their stride length as the rate of auditory cues increased, indicating that this method can effectively enhance mobility in people with Parkinson's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gait training with progressive external auditory cueing in persons with Parkinson's disease. Ford, MP., Malone, LA., Nyikos, I., et al.[2022]

In a study of 25 individuals with early Parkinson's disease, auditory cues improved gait characteristics such as step velocity and step length, but initially increased step time variability, indicating a potential trade-off in gait stability.

After 3 years, the same participants showed improved responses to auditory cues, with better step velocity and length, and reduced variability, suggesting that introducing auditory cues may be more beneficial as the disease progresses.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Auditory Cueing for Gait Impairment in Persons With Parkinson Disease: A Pilot Study of Changes in Response With Disease Progression. Lirani-Silva, E., Lord, S., Moat, D., et al.[2020]

In a study involving 20 individuals with Parkinson's disease, the type of auditory stimulus significantly affected their ability to perform upper extremity tasks, with weather forecasts causing more distraction than marching music.

The findings suggest that auditory stimuli requiring semantic processing can interfere with task performance, highlighting the importance of considering the nature of background sounds when designing therapeutic interventions for individuals with Parkinson's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of two different auditory stimuli on functional arm movement in persons with Parkinson's disease: a dual-task paradigm. Ma, HI., Hwang, WJ., Lin, KC.[2019]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with a range of auditory dysfunctions, affecting both peripheral hearing and central auditory processing, which may serve as important nonmotor symptoms of the disease.

Research indicates that dopaminergic therapies can improve auditory responses in PD patients, suggesting that neurotransmitters like glutamate and dopamine play a role in both auditory function and the disease's progression.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Auditory Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease. Jafari, Z., Kolb, BE., Mohajerani, MH.[2021]

Patients with Parkinson's disease show significant impairments in central auditory processing, affecting their ability to detect changes in sounds, process auditory information in the brainstem, and maintain attention to specific sounds.

Research on central auditory processing in atypical parkinsonian disorders like multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy is limited, but existing studies suggest similar auditory processing challenges may also be present in these conditions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Central auditory processing in parkinsonian disorders: A systematic review. De Groote, E., De Keyser, K., Bockstael, A., et al.[2021]

Patients with early Parkinson's disease showed significant difficulties in divided attention when processing competing auditory inputs compared to age- and gender-matched controls, indicating a specific attentional impairment associated with the disease.

The study also found a right ear advantage in auditory processing, where speech messages were not only better discriminated but also processed more quickly by the right ear, suggesting lateralized processing in auditory attention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is there a divided attention deficit in patients with early Parkinson's disease? Sharpe, MH.[2021]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Auditory Processing Abilities of Parkinson's Disease Patients. [2018]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

DAF as instrumental treatment for dysarthria in progressive supranuclear palsy: a case report. [2019]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Motor-Learning-Based Adjustment of Ambulatory Feedback on Vocal Loudness for Patients With Parkinson's Disease. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The science and practice of LSVT/LOUD: neural plasticity-principled approach to treating individuals with Parkinson disease and other neurological disorders. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A microcomputer-based wearable biofeedback device to improve transfer of treatment in parkinsonian dysarthria. [2019]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

COLLISION AVOIDANCE TRAINING USING A DRIVING SIMULATOR IN DRIVERS WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE: A PILOT STUDY. [2021]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise and motor training in people with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review of participant characteristics, intervention delivery, retention rates, adherence, and adverse events in clinical trials. [2021]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gait training with progressive external auditory cueing in persons with Parkinson's disease. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Auditory Cueing for Gait Impairment in Persons With Parkinson Disease: A Pilot Study of Changes in Response With Disease Progression. [2020]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of two different auditory stimuli on functional arm movement in persons with Parkinson's disease: a dual-task paradigm. [2019]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Auditory Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease. [2021]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Central auditory processing in parkinsonian disorders: A systematic review. [2021]

13. Italy pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is there a divided attention deficit in patients with early Parkinson's disease? [2021]