Innovative technology for the assisted delivery of intensive voice treatment (LSVT®LOUD) for Parkinson disease.

Purpose: To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a newly developed assistive technology system, Lee Silverman Voice Treatment Companion (LSVT(®) Companion™, hereafter referred to as "Companion"), to support the delivery of LSVT(®)LOUD, an efficacious speech intervention for individuals with Parkinson disease (PD).

Method: Sixteen individuals with PD were randomized to an immediate (n = 8) or a delayed (n = 8) treatment group. They participated in 9 LSVT LOUD sessions and 7 Companion sessions, independently administered at home.

Impact of four nonclinical speaking environments on a child's fundamental frequency and voice level: a preliminary case study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate how a child's fundamental frequency (F(0)) and estimated voice level (dB SPL) change in distinct speaking environments.

Method: A child age 5;7 (years;months) wore a National Center for Voice and Speech voice dosimeter for 4 days. The 2 parameters measured were F(0) and dB SPL.

The inability to produce soft voice (IPSV): a tool to detect vocal change in school-teachers.

Purpose: This study investigated whether clinicians could detect voice changes reported by teachers, from self-ratings teachers conducted of their inability to produce soft voice (IPSV).

Methods: Ten teachers wore a vocal dosimeter and completed daily IPSV ratings approximately every 2 hours for 14 days. Following the 2 weeks of dosimetry, two speech clinicians specialized in voice rated the teachers' IPSV from dosimeter recordings.