Dysarthria treatment in Parkinson’s patients: real-world use, barriers, and outcomes
Official title: Evaluating Dysarthria Treatment in Parkinson Disease Per Patient, Family and Clinician: Treatment Implementation, Barriers and Facilitators, and Outcomes and Adherence
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11448207 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A real-world study to understand how speech therapy for Parkinson’s-related dysarthria works for patients, families, and clinicians in everyday clinical settings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $666,519 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DC023301-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11448207 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Parkinson’s disease experiencing hypokinetic dysarthria, and their caregivers and clinicians involved in their care.
✕Less likely to help
People without Parkinson’s disease or without dysarthria may not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project looks at how practical speech therapy for hypokinetic dysarthria performs for people with Parkinson’s in real clinics. It will observe how treatments are delivered, what helps or hinders adherence, and what outcomes patients experience in routine care. The study uses a pragmatic trial design to capture diverse patients, different clinician training levels, and real-world clinic constraints. Data from patients, families, and clinicians will be collected to identify barriers, facilitators, and impact on communication and quality of life. Results could guide better implementation of motor speech therapies in standard practice.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help clinics implement more effective, accessible speech therapies for people with Parkinson’s, improving communication and daily living.
How similar studies have gone: Prior trials show benefits of motor speech therapy in controlled settings; this study tests implementation in real-world practice.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Richardson, Kelly — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Richardson, Kelly
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.