City Research Online Delivering the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (lsvt) by Web Camera: a Feasibility Study Delivering the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (lsvt) by Web Camera: a Pilot Study

Background: Speech disorders are a feature of Parkinson’s disease, typically worsening as the disease progresses. The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) was developed to address these difficulties. It targets vocal loudness as a means of increasing vocal effort and improving co-ordination across the subsystems of speech. Aims: Currently LSVT is not widely available, and there are practical difficulties associated with the delivery of an intensive treatment in an environment of resource constraints in the NHS. Delivery of LSVT over the Web may address some of these difficulties. Method: We report a feasibility study in which three individuals with speech disorders resulting from Parkinson’s disease received LSVT over the Internet, using broadband connection and a web camera. Participants were seen face to face for every fourth session in order to build a personal relationship, measure vocal sound pressure level (SPL) during treatment and to review and prepare homework tasks. All other sessions were delivered over the Internet. Results: Broadly similar treatment gains were found between individuals treated over the Internet and those treated face to face (Ramig et al, 2001a). Gains were maintained or improved at an assessment 2 months after the treatment. Conclusion: This feasibility study demonstrates that delivery of LSVT over the Internet may be both cost and treatment effective, and that a larger trial would be