Effect of Treatment of Hypokinetic Dysarthria in Parkinson's Disease with Speech and Language Therapy: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: A meta-analysis study was conducted to measure how to forecast the effect of treatment of hypokinetic dysarthria in Parkinson's-disease with speech and language therapy.

Methods: Until October 2024, a comprehensive literature research was conducted, and 1665 related studies were reviewed.  The 14 selected studies encompassed 948 participants with hypokinetic dysarthria in Parkinson's disease.  The odds ratio (OR) mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to look at the outcome of treatment of hypokinetic dysarthria in Parkinson's disease with speech and language therapy using dichotomous or continuous methods with a fixed- or random-effects model.

Results: In individuals with hypokinetic dysarthria in Parkinson-disease, speech and language therapy had significantly higher sound pressure level, phonation (MD, 7. 51; 95% CI, 3. 81-11. 20, p<0. 001), reading (MD, 8. 83; 95% CI, 4. 96-12. 69, p<0. 001), monologue (MD, 4. 28; 95% CI, 2. 47-6. 10, p<0. 001), and picture description (MD, 3. 64; 95% CI, 1. 78-5. 50, p<0. 001), and lower Voice Handicap Index (MD, -5. 61; 95% CI, -9. 05- -2. 17, p=0. 001) compared to control treatment.

Conclusion: In individuals with hypokinetic dysarthria in Parkinson's disease, speech and language therapy had significantly higher sound pressure level, phonation, reading, monologue, and picture description, and lower Voice Handicap Index compared to control treatment. To validate these finding more studies are required, caution is needed when interpreting these results, since many comparisons had a limited number of selected studies