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Article

Effects of Deep Brain Stimulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus Settings on Voice Quality, Intensity, and Prosody in Parkinson’s Disease: Preliminary Evidence for Speech Optimization

  • Anita Abeyesekera (a1), Scott Adams (a2), Cynthia Mancinelli (a1), Thea Knowles (a1), Greydon Gilmore (a3), Mehdi Delrobaei (a4) and Mandar Jog (a5)...

Abstract:

Objective: To systematically evaluate how different deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) amplitude, frequency, and pulse-width electrical parameter settings impact speech intensity, voice quality, and prosody of speech in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: Ten individuals with PD receiving bilateral STN-DBS treatments were seen for three baseline and five treatment visits. The five treatment visits involved an examination of the standard clinical settings as well as manipulation of different combinations of frequency (low, mid, and high), pulse width (low, mid, and high), and voltage (low, mid, and high) of stimulation. Measures of speech intensity, jitter, shimmer, harmonics–noise ratio, semitone standard deviation, and listener ratings of voice quality and prosody were obtained for each STN-DBS manipulation. Results: The combinations of lower frequency, lower pulse width, and higher voltage settings were associated with improved speech outcomes compared to the current standard clinical settings. In addition, decreased total electrical energy delivered to the STN appears to be associated with speech improvements. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence that STN-DBS may be optimized for Parkinson-related problems with voice quality, speech intensity, and prosody of speech.

Les effets de divers réglages de stimulation cérébrale profonde destinée au noyau sous-thalamique sur la qualité de la voix, sur l’intensité de la parole et sur la prosodie de la parole chez des patients atteints de la maladie de Parkinson. Objectif : Évaluer de façon systématique comment différents niveaux de stimulation cérébrale profonde (SCP) du noyau sous-thalamique peuvent avoir un impact sur l’intensité et la prosodie de la parole de patients atteints de la maladie de Parkinson (MP) de même que sur la qualité de leur voix. Pour ce faire, différents réglages de nature électrique ont été envisagés en ce qui a trait à l’amplitude, la fréquence et la durée des impulsions induites. Méthodes : Au total, 10 patients atteints de MP et bénéficiant de traitements de SCP destinés à leur noyau sous-thalamique ont été vus dans le cadre de 3 examens préliminaires et de 5 visites prévoyant un traitement. Ces 5 visites de nature thérapeutique ont sous-tendu un examen des réglages cliniques standards de même qu’une manipulation permettant de combiner, en matière de SCP, diverses fréquences (basses, moyennes, élevées), diverses durées des impulsions (courtes, moyennes, longues) et diverses tensions (basses, moyennes, élevées). Pour chaque intervention de SCP visant le noyau sous-thalamique, nous avons obtenu des mesures portant sur les aspects suivants : intensité, agitation et tremblement de la parole ; rapport harmoniques/bruits ; écart-type d’un demi-ton ; et finalement des notations d’auditeurs en ce qui regarde la qualité de la voix et la prosodie. Résultats : Le fait de combiner des réglages prévoyant des basses fréquences, des durées d’impulsion courtes et des tensions élevées a été associé, en comparaison avec les réglages cliniques standards actuels, à des résultats améliorés en matière de parole. Qui plus est, une diminution totale de l’énergie électrique destinée au noyau sous-thalamique semble aussi être associée à des résultats améliorés en matière de parole. Conclusions : Cette étude contient donc des preuves préliminaires suggérant que la SCP du noyau sous-thalamique pourrait être optimisée pour traiter des problèmes de qualité de la voix, mais également d’intensité et de prosodie de la parole, qui sont relatifs à la MP.

Copyright

© 2019 The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences Inc. 

Corresponding author

Correspondence to: Anita Abeyesekera, Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Western University, Elborn College, 1201 Western Road, London, ON, N6G 1H1, Canada. Email: aabeyese@uwo.ca

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