Effects of Singing on Speech in Patients with Parkinson's Disease
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The Symposium provides undergraduates from all academic disciplines with an opportunity to share their research with the university community and other guests through conference-style oral presentations. The Symposium represents part of a larger effort of Iowa State University to enhance, support, and celebrate undergraduate research activity.
Though coordinated by the University Honors Program, all undergraduate students are eligible and encouraged to participate in the Symposium. Undergraduates conducting research but not yet ready to present their work are encouraged to attend the Symposium to learn about the presentation process and students not currently involved in research are encouraged to attend the Symposium to learn about the broad range of undergraduate research activities that are taking place at ISU.
The first Symposium was held in April 2007. The 39 students who presented research and their mentors collectively represented all of ISU's Colleges: Agriculture and Life Sciences, Business, Design, Engineering, Human Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate College. The event has grown to regularly include more than 100 students presenting on topics that span the broad range of disciplines studied at ISU.
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Abstract
Nearly 75% of individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have speech and voice impairments. In addition, difficulties in breathing and airway protection are the primary factors leading to death in persons with PD. Singing, like speech, is produced by the larynx in conjunction with the respiratory system. However, singing requires greater breath control and is considered to be a more sustained form of speech with greater emphasis placed on rhythm, tempo, and pitch modulation. Singing may also increase laryngeal and respiratory muscle strength needed to delay the development of respiratory complications due to muscle weakness associated with PD. This study measured the effects of a singing intervention in 27 participants with PD. Participants were assigned into a high (met 2 times per week) or low intensity (met one time per week) group. Voice and respiratory measures were recorded pre and post eight weeks of intervention. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressure (F > 4.288, p < 0.05), as well as vocal duration (F = 4.233, p = 0.05). These results suggest that singing may be a valid treatment option for maintaining and improving voice and respiratory control in persons with PD.