A Comparison of In-Person and Telehealth Treatment Modalities using the SpeechVive Device

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Parkinson disease (PD) often impairs communication, affecting quality of life.
• Telehealth is a growing modality for PD management.
• The SpeechVive device, utilizing the Lombard effect, aims to enhance speech in PD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of the SpeechVive device for improving communication in PD patients when delivered via telehealth versus in-person.
• To utilize an implementation science design to evaluate the delivery modalities.

Main Methods:

• 66 PD participants were randomized into in-person (n=34) or telehealth (n=32) groups for 12 weeks.
• Speech parameters (SPL, utterance length, pause frequency/duration) and psychosocial measures were assessed pre-, mid-, and post-treatment.
• Participants provided speech samples with and without the SpeechVive device.

Main Results:

• The in-person group showed increased Sound Pressure Level (SPL) with the device; the telehealth group did not.
• Both groups exhibited reduced pausing while using the device.
• The telehealth group demonstrated increased utterance length and communication participation post-treatment, unlike the in-person group.
• Technical issues disproportionately affected telehealth data collection.

Conclusions:

• In-person delivery of the SpeechVive device yielded comparable results to previous studies.
• Telehealth delivery was less effective for improving speech loudness in PD patients.
• While telehealth showed some psychosocial benefits, technical limitations impacted the study's findings for this modality.