| Abstract: |
The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an intensive respiratory-phonatory treatment program (Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, LSVT) on vocal function in two women, ages 47 and 48, with 12 and 15 years of history with multiple sclerosis (MS). These women complained of vocal weakness and fatigue associated with their illness. These voice problems were chronically present despite the fact that the symptoms of MS were in remission. Statistically significant improvement from pre- to post-treatment and from pre- to 6 months post-treatment were observed in sound pressure level (SPL) for different speech tasks and in duration of sustained vowel phonation. Significant improvement was also observed in the perceptual rating of voice loudness after treatment. The present findings provide further support for the efficacy of LSVT in the treatment of various neurologically based speech disorders. |
