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Acoustic Voice Analysis as a Useful Tool to Discriminate Different ALS Phenotypes
Giammarco Milella1, Diletta Sciancalepore2, Giada Cavallaro2
1Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences, 70121 Bari, Italy.
Biomedicines
|September 28, 2023
Summary
Acoustic voice analysis can differentiate amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) subtypes. Voice parameters like tVSA, AMRs, and SMRs help assess bulbar impairment and dysphagia, aiding prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) frequently causes speech impairment, with 80-96% of patients losing speech ability.
- Distinguishing spastic from flaccid dysarthria in ALS patients with bulbar impairment is clinically challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate acoustic voice parameters as biomarkers for discriminating ALS clinical phenotypes.
- To assess the utility of acoustic analysis in differentiating bulbar impairment and predicting disease progression.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of triangular vowel space area (tVSA), alternating motion rates (AMRs), and sequential motion rates (SMRs).
- Comparison between 36 ALS patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs).
- Subgroup analysis based on prevalent upper motor neuron (pUMN) vs. lower motor neuron (pLMN) impairment and disease onset (bulbar vs. spinal).
Main Results:
- Significant differences in tVSA, AMR, and SMR values were found between ALS patients and HCs.
- tVSA demonstrated high accuracy in distinguishing pUMN from pLMN patients.
- AMR and SMR values were significantly lower in patients with bulbar onset and correlated with dysphagia severity.
Conclusions:
- Acoustic voice analysis serves as a valuable prognostic tool for differentiating spastic and flaccid dysarthria in ALS.
- Voice parameter analysis aids in assessing the extent of bulbar involvement and potential dysphagia in ALS patients.
