Work

Voice and Fluency Changes as a Function of Speech Task and Deep Brain Stimulation

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: PURPOSE: Speaking, which naturally occurs in different modes or "tasks" such as conversation and repetition, relies on intact basal ganglia nuclei. Recent studies suggest that voice and fluency parameters are differentially affected by speech task. In this study, the authors examine the effects of subcortical functionality on voice and fluency, comparing measures obtained from spontaneous and matched repeated speech samples. METHOD: Subjects with Parkinson's disease who were being treated with bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nuclei were tested with stimulators ON and OFF. RESULTS: The study found that a voice measure, harmonic to noise ratio, is improved in repetition and in the DBS-ON condition and that dysfluencies are more plentiful in conversation with little or variable influence of DBS condition. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that voice and fluency are differentially affected by DBS treatment and that task conditions, interacting with subcortical functionality, influence motor speech performance.

Source: Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research

DOI: 10.1044/1092-4388(2010/09-0154)

Authors: Diana Van Lancker Sidtis, Tiffany Rogers, Violette Godier, Michele Tagliati, John J. Sidtis

Institutions: Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, New York University, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Language: English

Topic: Voice and Speech Disorders

Subfield: Physiology (medical)

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders