What is it about?
Speech-language pathologists choose treatments based on the evidence base supporting their use with specific populations. This paper reviews the current literature available for treatments to improve respiratory (breathing) and laryngeal (voicing) function in people with neurodegenerative diseases (i.e., Parkinson's disease, ALS, Multiple Sclerosis). A number of diseases are considered with most evidence available for Parkinson disease.
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Why is it important?
The systematic review highlights how a variety of treatments have been studied to understand expected changes as a result of a treatment. Treatments are reviewed for a variety of disorders. The authors also discuss areas of treatment research that need to be expanded, as well as research methods that need to be improved, to provide better support for clinical practices.
Perspectives
Since the last systematic review, a large number of papers have been published on new treatment methods and on use of treatment with new patient populations. Recommendations are made to improve the evidence base including reporting participant flow through a study, development of consistent outcomes, more research on disorders other than Parkinson's disease. It is recommended that clinicians consider the research evidence and the physiologic impact of the disorder, along with clinical experience and patient preferences, following evidence-based practice guidelines in making treatment decisions.
Jessica Huber
University at Buffalo - The State University of New York
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Behavioral Management of Respiratory/Phonatory Dysfunction for Dysarthria Associated With Neurodegenerative Disease: A Systematic Review, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, January 2024, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA),
DOI: 10.1044/2023_ajslp-23-00274.
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