International journal of language & communication disorders
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Int J Lang Commun Disord · Mar 2011
National survey of speech and language therapy provision for people with Parkinson's disease in the United Kingdom: therapists' practices.
Communication and swallowing changes feature prominently in Parkinson's disease. People with Parkinson's disease appear under-represented in speech-language therapy clinics in the United Kingdom. The nature of the speech-language therapy services in the UK to people with Parkinson's disease has not been examined. ⋯ Speech-language therapist services for people with Parkinson's disease in the UK are restricted on most dimensions. Management practices often do not match guideline suggestions. Consideration needs to be given to the training for, content of and delivery of speech-language therapy services for people with Parkinson's disease.
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Int J Lang Commun Disord · Jan 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyTreating disordered speech and voice in Parkinson's disease online: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.
Telerehabilitation may be a feasible solution to the current problems faced by people with Parkinson's disease in accessing speech pathology services. ⋯ Online treatment for hypokinetic dysarthria associated with Parkinson's disease appears to be clinically valid and reliable. Suggestions for future research are outlined.
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Int J Lang Commun Disord · Nov 2010
Non-speech oro-motor exercise use in acquired dysarthria management: regimes and rationales.
Non-speech oro-motor exercises (NSOMExs) are described in speech and language therapy manuals and are thought to be much used in acquired dysarthria intervention, though there is no robust evidence of an influence on speech outcome. Opinions differ as to whether, and for which dysarthria presentations, NSOMExs are appropriate. ⋯ NSOMExs are a frequent component of dysarthria management in the UK-devolved government countries. This confirmation, along with the details of speech and language therapy practice, provides a foundation for clinical research which will compare outcomes for people with dysarthria, whose management includes and does not include NSOMExs. Speech and language therapy practice may be guided by evidence that speech outcome is or is not affected by NSOMExs.
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Int J Lang Commun Disord · Sep 2010
Randomized Controlled TrialUsing Talking Mats to support communication in persons with Huntington's disease.
Many individuals with Huntington's disease experience reduced functioning in cognition, language and communication. Talking Mats is a visually based low technological augmentative communication framework that supports communication in people with different cognitive and communicative disabilities. ⋯ Talking Mats could be a valuable resource for people with Huntington's disease and their conversation partners. It could be used for social purposes, for understanding a person's opinions and for making decisions. Additional research is necessary in order to generalize the results to the population of individuals with Huntington's disease and to understand better the mechanisms behind the positive effects observed.
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Int J Lang Commun Disord · Jul 2010
Meeting the needs of children and young people with speech, language and communication difficulties.
The UK government set up a review of provision for children and young people with the full range of speech, language and communication needs led by a Member of Parliament, John Bercow. A research study was commissioned to provide empirical evidence to inform the Bercow Review. ⋯ This study has demonstrated a lack of consistency across Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts. Optimizing provision to meet the needs of children and young people with speech, language and communication difficulties will require concerted action, with leadership from central government. The study was used by the Bercow Review whose recommendations have been addressed by central government and a funded action plan has been implemented as a result.