Effects Of Group Speech Therapy On Articulation Function In Patients With Parkinson’s Disease

Objective To observe the effects of group speech therapy on articulation function in patients with Parkinson’s disease(PD).Methods Forty PD patients were randomly divided into observation group(twenty cases)and control group(twenty cases),the observation group was trained in groups,while the control group was trained individually.Both groups received twenty sessions of speech therapy for thirty minutes each time,five times a week for four weeks.Each patient was evaluated by modified Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment(mFD A),intelligibility of speech,modified drinking water test,and Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale-I(UPDRS-I)before and after speech therapy.Results 1.There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in general data such as gender,age and disease course(P>0.05).2.Before therapy,the mFDA score is(14.05±5.03)in control group,and(13.20±4.46)in observation group;the intelligibility of speech is(70.21±14.55)%in control group,and(66.40±19.60)%in observation group;the cases passed modified drinking water test is 3 in control group,and 4 in observation group;UPDRS-I score is(2.05±1.47)in control group,and(2.30±1.38)in observation group.There was no statistically significant difference in the measures of mFDA,intelligibility of speech,modified drinking water test,and UPDRS-I(P>0.05).3.After training for four weeks,the mFDA score is(18.16±6.64)in control group,and(21.10±4.73)in observation group;the intelligibility of speech is(74.42±3.34)%in control group,and(85.35 ±3.97)%in observation group;the cases passed modified drinking water test is 11 in control group,and 14 in observation group;UPDRS-I score is(1.79±1.48)in control group,and(0.95±0.19)in observation group.The differences were statistically significant in all of the measures(P<0.05).4.Improvement of the intelligibility of speech,mFDA and UPDRS-I in the observation group was significantly better than those in the control group(P<0.05).However,there was no statistically significant difference in the drinking water test between the two groups after training(P>0.05).Conclusion 1.Both training methods can improve the articulation function,swallowing function,and the mental behavior and emotions of patients with PD2.Speech therapy in groups is better in improving the articulation function and the mental behavior and emotions of PD patients than one-on-one training.But there is no obvious advantages in improving swallowing function.3.Group speech therapy is safe,efficient and easy.PD patients are willing to accept it.It is worth promoting in speech therapy of PD patients.