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A clinical trial led by the University of Nottingham has demonstrated that the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD) significantly outperforms the current speech and language therapy provided by the NHS for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

The trial results highlight the effectiveness of LSVT LOUD in reducing the impact of voice problems in Parkinson's patients compared to both NHS speech therapy and no treatment. Conducted by experts from the Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, along with several other institutions, the trial was coordinated by the Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit (BCTU) at the University of Birmingham.

Professor Catherine Sackley, from the School of Health Sciences and the NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, led the study. She emphasized the importance of addressing speech and communication issues in PD patients, noting that these problems can lead to social isolation and a diminished quality of life.

"The results clearly show that delivered in this way, the LSVT LOUD method is both effective and it can be cost effective," Sackley said. "The NHS method as it is currently delivered is not effective. Now we have this data, we need to look at other factors and whether if different therapies are delivered in different ways, this would further impact the results."

Published in The BMJ, the trial, which built on a pilot study, involved participants from 40 NHS sites across the UK. They were randomized into three groups: one received LSVT LOUD, another received standard NHS speech therapy, and a third received no therapy.

LSVT LOUD is a structured speech treatment designed to help PD patients use their voices at a more normal level, involving voice exercises delivered over 16 sessions across four weeks. In contrast, the NHS therapy is less intensive, personalized, and spread over six to eight sessions.

Between September 2016 and March 2020, 388 people with PD and dysarthria (difficulty speaking) participated in the trial. Of these, 130 were assigned to the LSVT LOUD group, 129 to the NHS therapy group, and 129 to the control group.

As per Medical Xpress, the findings revealed that LSVT LOUD was significantly more effective at reducing the impact of dysarthria compared to both the NHS therapy and no therapy. The NHS treatment showed no significant benefit over no treatment.

Adrian Wrigley, a Parkinson's patient, underscored the personal importance of speech and language therapy research.

"The loss or reduction of our main communication tool leads to higher levels of frustration and anxiety for those of us with Parkinson's and our loved ones. The development of an effective treatment is crucial for the Parkinson's community," he said.

This study marks a significant step forward in identifying the most effective speech therapy for Parkinson's patients, with potential implications for treatment approaches within the NHS.