Self-perceived affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions associated with voice use in people with Parkinson’s disease: a pilot study

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to compare the affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions related to vocal function in people with Parkinson’s disease (PWPD) and healthy controls using the Behavior Assessment Battery – Voice (BAB-Voice). The test’s internal consistency was also described.

Methods

31 PWPD and 19 healthy controls were recruited from September 2020 to March 2021. Participants completed four BAB-Voice subtests: Speech Situation Checklist – Emotional Reaction (SSC-ER), the Speech Situation Checklist – Speech Disruption (SSC-SD), Behavior Checklist (BCL), and Communication Attitude Test for Adults (BigCAT), describing the experienced negative emotional reaction, voice disruptions, coping behaviors, and negative attitude regarding communication respectively. Subtest scores were calculated and analyzed.

Results

The scores of the PWPD were significantly different from those of the controls (Pillai’s Trace = 0.344, F[4] = 5.508, p = .001, η_p² = .344): PWPD showed more negative emotions and voice problems, more coping behaviors, and more negative speech-related attitude compared to healthy controls. All subtests showed excellent internal consistency.

Conclusions

The BAB-Voice proved a tool with a good internal consistency that measured different psychosocial reactions in PWPD versus controls. PWPD exhibited significantly more negative emotions and voice problems in specific speech situations, more coping behaviors, and a more negative speech-related attitude. The specificity of information obtained from the BAB-Voice may aid in improving the treatment planning of voice disorders in PWPD.

Keywords:

• Parkinson’s disease
• voice disorder
• hypophonia
• psychosocial effect
• Behavior Assessment Battery

Disclosure statement

The fourth author (M.V.) has a personal, non-financial interest as a test author of the BAB-Voice. The other authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Zoë Thijs

Zoë Thijs is a postdoctoral research associate within Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Texas Christian University. She did her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in speech-language pathology at Ghent University, and received her Ph.D. from Texas Christian University. Her work focusses on voice and voice disorders, especially in people with Parkinson’s disease.

Yan Zhang

Yan Zhang, an associate professor in Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Texas Christian University. She received her master degree in Medicine from China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China and obtained her Ph.D. in Health Services Research from Old Dominion University in the US. Her expertise is in research methodology, statistical analysis and program evaluation as well as integrative health research.

Kristiane Van Lierde

Kristiane Van Lierde is full professor at the Ghent University, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (CESLAS: center for Speech and Language Sciences). Her research expertise is the assessment and treatment of voice and resonance. In this field of study, she authored until now 200 peer-reviewed publications in high-ranked A1, peer-reviewed journals. Furthermore, she is the (co-)supervisor of 10 finished PhD projects and 5 running PhD projects. She is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Voice and supervisor of an international project in Uganda. She presented her research at several national and international conferences (>100), and organized 19 (inter)national conferences. Her clinical expertise is illustrated by her leading role as speech language pathologist of the multidisciplinary craniofacial team and the voice clinic of the Ghent University Hospital. Moreover, she supervised more than 150 master theses or honours program students. As professor at the Ghent University, she is the head of the Bachelor and Master of Science educational program in Logopaedic and Audiological Sciences. Furthermore, she is a member of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium. As researcher at the Ghent University she and her research team received 8 scientific awards for their research work related to voice.

Martine Vanryckeghem

Martine Vanryckeghem received her Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University. She is Pegasus Professor at the University of Central Florida, ASHA fellow, USA and European Certified Fluency Specialist and received ASHA’s Certificate for Outstanding Contribution in International Achievement. She publishes in peer-reviewed journals and gives workshops, internationally, on assessment and treatment.

Christopher Watts

Christopher R. Watts, Ph.D., is the Marilyn and Morgan Davies Dean of the Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences and Professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Texas Christian University. Dr. Watts has over 25 years of experience in higher education and has served in leadership roles for the past 14 years in positions of Dean, Assistant Dean, and Chair. Dr. Watts’ clinical, teaching and research interests center on laryngeal function in voice and swallowing with a specific focus on Parkinson’s disease. He has published extensively in these areas and has presented research to both national and international audiences. He is co-author of the textbook “Laryngeal Function and Voice Disorders: Basic Science to Clinical Practice” (2019) published by Thieme Medical Publishers.