Partner perception of affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions to voice use in people with Parkinson's disease

People with Parkinson's disease (PWPD) experience negative feelings, thoughts, and coping behaviors due to the experienced communication challenges. This study aimed to compare the perceptions of PWPD with those of proxies for the affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions specific to voice production during communicative interactions.

The Behavior Assessment Battery - Voice (BAB-Voice) was administered to 31 PWPD and their close communication partner/proxy. The BAB-Voice contained four subtests: Speech Situation Checklist - Emotional Reaction (SSC-ER), Speech Situation Checklist - Speech Disruption (SSC-SD), Behavior Checklist (BCL), and Communication Attitude Test for Adults (BigCAT). The scores for each of these subtests were calculated and statistically analyzed.

A repeated measures MANOVA did not find statistically significant differences between the subscores of PWPD and proxies (Pillai's trace = 0.25, F[4] = 2.22, p =.094, η  = 0.25). Fair to excellent agreement between the PWPD and proxies was found. The highest agreement was found on the BigCAT (ICC = 0.80). The SSC-SD (ICC = 0.77) and SSC-ER (ICC = 0.71) still showed excellent agreement, while only fair agreement was found for the BCL (ICC = 0.57).

Proxies were able to identify the affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions to voice use in PWPD. Communication partners close to the PWPD could, therefore, provide valuable information regarding the assessment and treatment of hypophonia in PD.