RecruitingEarly Phase 1NCT06540989

Noise-augmented Automatic Speech Recognition for Speech Treatment in Parkinson's Disease

Understand Me for Life: Using Noise-augmented Automatic Speech Recognition to Improve Intelligibility in Parkinson's Disease

Sponsor

Teachers College, Columbia University

Enrollment

42 participants

Start Date

Sep 1, 2024

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether noise-augmented feedback using automatic speech recognition improves intelligibility and social participation in individuals with Parkinson's disease. The main questions the investigators will address are: Does noise-augmented feedback lead to increased intelligibility, as measured by transcription accuracy scores? Does a self-managed speech protocol lead to increased social participation, as measured by the Communicative Participation Item Bank and the Communicative Effectiveness Index questionnaires? Participants will: Receive 2-4 initial speech assessments in-person in our lab. Engage in speech treatment sessions at home using their phone and computer four days a week for four weeks. Four of those sessions will be directly monitored online by a speech-language pathologist. The rest of the sessions are completed by the participant. Come to the lab for two post-treatment assessments following completion of treatment. Come to the lab six months after treatment completion for an additional assessment.

Eligibility

Min Age: 50 YearsMax Age: 80 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This trial is testing whether a speech recognition program that has been specially trained to understand speech in noisy environments can help people with Parkinson's disease improve their communication. Many people with Parkinson's develop a speech condition called dysarthria — soft, slurred, or unclear speech — and this app-based therapy could be done at home. **You may be eligible if...** - You are 50–80 years old with a medical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease - You have mild to moderate speech difficulties (dysarthria) but can still communicate - You are in stages I–IV on the Hoehn & Yahr scale (mild to advanced Parkinson's) - Your medication schedule for Parkinson's is stable - Your thinking and memory are intact (MMSE score ≥ 25) - You do not have significant depression (BDI-III score ≤ 24) **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You have had brain surgery for Parkinson's (deep brain stimulation) - You have another neurological condition or atypical parkinsonism - You received intensive voice therapy within the past 3 months Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALImmediate treatment

Participants will access a web-based app using their phone to record 100 sentences every treatment session. Noise-augmented feedback will be provided to increase accuracy of speech productions.

BEHAVIORALDeferred treatment

This group of participants will receive the same treatment as those in the immediate treatment group. The only difference is the timeline of treatment onset. Therefore, participants will access a web-based app using their phone to record 100 sentences every treatment session. Noise-augmented feedback will be provided to increase accuracy of speech productions.