Speech Amplification Devices for Parkinson Disease: Talker- and Technology-Driven Enhancements
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age50+
SponsorMichigan State University
About this trial
The proposed research aims to investigate the use of speech amplification devices as a potential treatment option for people with Parkinson's disease and related disorders who exhibit hypophonia, a voice disorder that affects over half of those with Parkinson's disease. By characterizing the acoustic and perceptual effects of speech amplification and identifying ways to optimize outcomes through talker- and device-specific enhancements, this project seeks to develop personalized, evidence-based treatment options for hypophonia. The current proposal will move this effort forward by systematically eliciting and modifying speech amplification device output that leverage both behavioral and technological approaches.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Dominant speakers of North American English
Have received a neurologist's diagnosis of Parkinson disease or parkinsonism (e.g., PSP/MSA/PSP)
Present with changes in their speech/voice
Disqualifiers
History of any other speech, language, or neurological concern other than Parkinson/parkinsonism.
Uncorrected hearing loss that exceeds a threshold of 40 dB HL in more than one ear (as per baseline screening audiometry) and/or use of a cochlear implant.
Trial design
Design model
Single group
Treatments tested in this trial
Behavioral speech strategies + speech amplification
BehavioralBehavioral speech strategies + speech amplification
Treatment groups
100 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment groupGroup A: Speech StudyExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Speech intensity
Decibel sound pressure level (dB SPL) measured from speech audio recordings
Time frame
Day 12
Voice quality
Cepstral peak prominence smoothed (CPPS), measured in decibels (dB) from speech audio recordings
Time frame
Day 13
Articulation
Quadrilateral vowel articulation index, measured as a composite of first and second formants in Herz (Hz) across four vowels in speech audio recordings.
Time frame
Day 1Secondary outcomes
1
Speech intelligibility
% words correctly understood by naive listeners (0% = no words correctly transcribed; 100% = all words correctly transcribed). Listener participants transcribe speech recorded by speaker participants.
Time frame
From end of speech study enrollment to within 1 year. Perceptual measures are elicited from naive listeners following the speech recording study.2
Perceived Listener Effort
% along a visual analogue scale (0 = "no effort required to understand the speech"; 100 = "maximal effort required to understand the speech"). Listener participants will rate speech recorded by speaker participants.
Time frame
From end of speech study enrollment to within 1 year. Listener effort will be elicited from naive listeners following the speech recording study.Sponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
Michigan State University
Lead sponsor
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov