The effects of surface electrical stimulation plus voice therapy in Parkinson's disease

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the effects of surface electrical stimulation plus voice therapy on voice in dysphonic patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. MethodPatients were assigned to 3 treatment groups (n = 28 per group) and received daily treatment for 3 weeks on 5 days a week. All three groups received voice therapy (usual care). In addition, two groups received surface electrical stimulation, either motor-level or sensory-level stimulation. A standardised measurement protocol to evaluate therapeutic effects included the Voice Handicap Index and videolaryngostroboscopy. ResultsVoice Handicap Index and videolaryngostroboscopic assessment showed statistically significant differences between baseline and post-treatment across all groups, without any post-treatment differences between the three groups. ConclusionIntensive voice therapy (usual care) improved idiopathic Parkinson's disease patients' self-assessment of voice impairment and the videolaryngostroboscopic outcome score. However, surface electrical stimulation used as an add-on to usual care did not improve idiopathic Parkinson's disease patients' self-assessment of voice impairment or the videolaryngostroboscopic outcome scores any further.