Effect of Intensive Voice Therapy in a Patient With Multiple System Atrophy

Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a degenerative neurogenic disorder characterized by multiple symptoms affecting the movements and autonomic nervous system. It reduces the function of various types of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. MSA causes some movement disorders such as dysarthria that is one of the most common symptoms in these patients. The first neurological sign that sometimes progresses is the complete inability to produce speech. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an intensive voice therapy based on the principles of Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT) on improving acoustic features, intelligibility, and quality of life index of the patients with MSA.

The patient was a 57-year-old woman with MSA disorder. Acoustic assessments of voice, intelligibility, and voice handicap index were performed before and after the treatment program according to LSVT principles.

Acoustic values such as intensity, frequency, and harmonic to noise ratio increased, and jitter and shimmer parameters decreased. Amount of perception of intelligibility increased. A significant decrease in the scores of the quality of life index related to voice handicap was observed.

After treatment by intensive voice therapy, the acoustic assessment revealed improvement in all voice parameters. The perceptual assessment showed improved intelligibility and increased the patient’s quality of life. Intensive voice therapy based on LSVT principles effectively improves the acoustic features, which subsequently cause intelligibility to be more comprehensible. It generally improves verbal communication, which has a positive effect on the patient’s quality of life.