Speech therapy and communication device: Impact on quality of life and mood in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Dysarthria has a drastic impact on the quality of life of ALS patients. Most patients suffering from dysarthria are offered speech therapy. Communication devices are prescribed less frequently. In the present study we investigated the impact of these therapeutic arrangements on quality of life in ALS patients. Thirty-eight ALS patients with dysarthria or anarthria, who underwent speech therapy and/or used communication devices answered three standardized questionnaires (Beck Depression Inventory - II (BDI), SF-36 Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36) and ALS Functional Rating Scale-revised (ALSFRS-R)) and were further interviewed about their experience with and benefit of speech therapy and communication devices. Most of the patients described a high impact of the communication device on their quality of life while the influence of speech therapy was rated less. By multiple regression analysis we confirmed an independent positive effect of communication device use on depression and psychological distress. In conclusion, communication systems improve or at least stabilize quality of life and mood in dysarthric ALS patients, and should be provided early in the disease course.

The Impact of Rehabilitation Interventions on Quality of Life in Individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review

“…Three studies were RCTs [24][25][26], two were cohort studies [27,28] and one was a cross-sectional study [29]. Five studies reported SF-36 [24,25,[27][28][29] and one study reported ALSAQ-40 [26]. There were no disagreements between the authors for included studies; using Cohen's Kappa [16], the level of agreement was calculated as 1, representing perfect agreement.…”

“…Of the five studies reporting SF-36 [24,25,[27][28][29], three were RCTs, and 2 were non-RCTs. Two RCTs which focused on exercise enrolled 25 and 27 ALS patients respectively [24,25].…”

“…Five of the six included studies had overall reporting percentages above 75% ( Table 2). The study that scored less than 75% [27] was due to unmet criteria from the results section (i.e. information was not provided regarding reasons for participants not participating at each stage, participant characteristics were incomplete, and additional details were missing to describe the study methods).…”

“…Interventions delivered by SLPs were addressed in one study [27]. Korner, et al [27] conducted a cohort study of patients with ALS who received speech therapy alone or speech therapy combined with communication devices.…”

“…Korner, et al [27] conducted a cohort study of patients with ALS who received speech therapy alone or speech therapy combined with communication devices. The response rate was 100%, and included 38 participants.…”