Craig Van Horne M.D Ph.D, Joel MacAuslan Ph.D, Karen Chenausky M.S CF-SLP, Carla Massari
Dysarthria is found in approximately 80% of patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and significantly limits communication as the severity worsens. Surgical implantation of deep brain stimulators (DBS) into the subthalamic nucleus (STN) has become more common and is an effective treatment for the motoric symptoms of PD. However, the effect of DBS on speech is equivocal.
We have developed computer algorithms that quickly and objectively analyze the speech of PD patients, allowing clinicians to assess the effect of speech on DBS programming or other therapies.