Therapeutic effects of intensive voice treatment (LSVT LOUD^®) for children with spastic cerebral palsy and dysarthria: A phase I treatment validation study

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to validate and extend the evaluation of treatment outcomes following LSVT LOUD® in children with dysarthria secondary to cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: Seven children (5 females, 6–10 years) with spastic quadriplegia and dysarthria received LSVT LOUD. Outcomes included: (a) quantitative and qualitative indices of communication and social functioning representing therapeutic effects and (b) features of the acoustic signal representing physiological effects on the speech mechanism. A matched group of typically developing children served as controls. Testing occurred just prior to (PRE), immediately following (POST), and at 12 weeks post-treatment (FUP).

Result: Expert listeners preferred voice quality and articulatory precision of children with CP at FUP as compared to PRE. Acoustic data indicated improvements on select measures of vocal functioning at POST with some maintenance at FUP. Single word intelligibility improved immediately POST, but was not maintained at FUP. Parents rated positive changes in characteristics of voice and speech and qualitative changes in communication at both POST and FUP.

Conclusion: The present study validated some of the previous LSVT LOUD outcomes in children with dysarthria and CP and extended our understanding of therapeutic effects through qualitative data obtained from extensive parent interviews.

Keywords:

• Voice treatment
• children
• cerebral palsy
• dysarthria
• LSVT LOUD

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation. We would like to thank research assistants Nahal Namdaran, Jill Hilstad, Christa Piccott, Vicky Chan, Chelsea Chin, Danielle Kaytor, Alanah Clifton, April King, Maureen Nicholson, and Laticia Walker who worked on various aspects of data collection and analyses. We would like to thank the parents and children who gave of their time and energy throughout the course of this study.

Declaration of interest

Dr. Fox is an employee of and has ownership interest in LSVT Global, Inc. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Supplementary material available online