LSVT LOUD® to Treat Cerebral Palsy

Preliminary evidence suggests intensive voice-based treatment LSVT LOUD® has the potential to improve vocal communication in adults living with cerebral palsy (CP). Cerebral palsy is a group of developmental disorders that affects the coordination of muscles including movement, posture, and, in some cases, speech.

Dysarthria is the motor speech disorder most commonly associated with CP. It affects respiration, voicing, and articulation, and you may feel or hear your speech is slurred, mumbled, or too fast or slow to communicate effectively.

Open Lines Speech and Communication will present details about this research in a poster titled “The Impact of Intensive Voice Treatment (LSVT®) on Speech Intelligibility in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy” and the LSVT LOUD® program at the MDS Virtual Congress in September hosted by the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. Here’s an overview of what we found. Check back in September for a more detailed glimpse at the research.

What the Research Shows

In response to a shortage of information investigating the speech of adults living with CP, including the impact of speech treatment on vocal function and overall communication, researchers examined pre-and post-treatment effects of LSVT LOUD® on the vocal function of two adult speakers with CP who were diagnosed with spastic dysarthria.

The results showed an LSVT LOUD® intensive four-week program yielded significant changes in many acoustic measures culminating in improved perceptions of vocal communication. The two adults reported increased communication participation scores as well as decreased Voice Handicap Index (VHI) scores. Most significantly, they shared they were more easily understood by others.

Every year, the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society bring together clinicians, scientists, and allied professionals demonstrating outstanding work in the field of movement disorders to collaborate, share ideas, and research to disseminate knowledge and promote excellence in the care of those living with movement disorders. Our hope is these exciting positive outcomes of LSVT LOUD® will motivate continued research in this area.

LSVT LOUD® Therapy at Open Lines®

LSVT LOUD®, known internationally as the gold standard for people with Parkinson’s, has also been effectively applied to CP and other neurological disorders. LSVT LOUD® helps patients recalibrate their sensory perceptions and target increased amplitude of movements so they know how to better control loudness and speech clarity when speaking to others.

At Open Lines®, Dr. Jessica Galgano is a faculty instructor and international clinical expert for LSVT LOUD®. She regularly conducts training and certification workshops throughout the world to become certified in the program and help individuals with neurologically based communication disorders.

Learn more about this therapy option on our LSVT LOUD® page. Contact us today by phone at (212) 430-6800, by email at [email protected], or through our contact form. If you are ready to take the next steps with LSVT LOUD® or any of our other speech therapy services, you can request an appointment with us.

If you’re struggling with communication difficulties, it’s time to turn to Open Lines®. Contact us via phone (212-430-6800), email [email protected], or by filling out our convenient contact form. Improve your communication skills and unlock your potential with Open Lines® Speech and Communication in New York today!