Listener Training for Parkinson's Disease

This trial aims to improve communication for people with Parkinson's disease by training their primary communication partners to better understand speech affected by dysarthria, a speech disorder. The trial will test whether listeners can be trained to understand the speech of those with this condition, potentially making everyday conversations easier and more effective. Participants needed for the study are those diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and a speech disorder known as hyperkinetic dysarthria. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance daily communication for those with Parkinson's.

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

Research shows that listener training might help people with Parkinson's disease communicate more effectively. Although specific safety data for listener training is unavailable, it involves practicing listening skills. Such activities are generally considered very safe because they don't involve medications or physical treatments. Previous studies have shown that it can improve speech understanding, suggesting that people handle it well. Overall, no reports of negative effects have emerged, making it a promising and safe way to improve communication.¹²³⁴⁵

Researchers are excited about the Listener Training approach for Parkinson's disease because it focuses on improving communication through a novel method: training listeners rather than focusing solely on the speech of those with the condition. Unlike traditional therapies that primarily aim to enhance the speech clarity of patients with dysarthria, this treatment empowers listeners to better understand altered speech patterns. By shifting the focus from the speaker to the listener, this method could provide a fresh avenue for improving everyday interactions for people with Parkinson’s disease, potentially leading to significant improvements in their quality of life.

Research shows that listener training can significantly help people with Parkinson's disease communicate more effectively. Earlier studies demonstrated that this training improved speech comprehension by up to 20% for those with dysarthria, a common speech issue in Parkinson's. This improvement surpasses typical results from other methods. In this trial, participants in the experimental condition will receive listener training, which teaches communication partners to better understand speech affected by dysarthria. Overall, these findings suggest that listener training could be a promising way to enhance everyday conversations for people with Parkinson's disease.¹²³⁵⁶