Improving speech clarity for people with Parkinson's disease using amplification devices
Official title: Speech Amplification Devices for Parkinson disease: Talker- and Technology-Driven Enhancements
Funded at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · NIH-11044448 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how speech amplification devices can help people with Parkinson's disease speak more clearly, and it’s for anyone who wants to improve their communication skills while using these devices along with some helpful speech techniques.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $187,297 |
| NIH project number | 1R21DC021798-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11044448 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who experience difficulties with speech clarity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have Parkinson's disease or those who do not experience speech difficulties may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how speech amplification devices can enhance communication for individuals with Parkinson's disease, a condition that often leads to difficulties in speaking clearly. The study aims to understand how these devices work in conjunction with behavioral speech strategies to improve speech clarity. Participants will be evaluated on their speech using both their normal speaking style and a clearer, more articulated style while using the amplification devices. The goal is to identify the best ways to use these devices to support effective communication in daily life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the ability of individuals with Parkinson's disease to communicate more effectively in their daily interactions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that speech amplification devices can improve communication outcomes for individuals with speech impairments, indicating potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Knowles, Thea — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Knowles, Thea
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Speech amplification devices to help people with Parkinson’s communicate better
Aimed at people with Parkinson’s disease, this project tests how using voice amplification together with clear speech styles affects how well others hear and understand spoken words.
-
Silent speech interface using a wearable tongue tracker to help people after laryngectomy communicate
A wearable system with tongue sensors and intraoral components aims to let people without a vocal cord use natural-sounding speech in daily life.
-
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A Duke-led project studies how the brain that talks relates to keeping verbal information in working memory, using advanced brain recordings from patients already undergoing medical care.
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AI-powered system to improve teamwork in cardiac surgery
A research project is testing an AI-driven system that listens to team conversations during heart surgeries to spot teamwork patterns and give real-time feedback to improve patient safety.
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Protein aggregation and brain changes in Parkinson’s-related dementia
A study of brain tissue from people with Parkinson’s to understand how protein clumps and nerve cell loss relate to dementia.
-
Caregiver Speech and Infant Brain Development in Siblings of Children with Autism
This project follows babies who have an older sibling with autism to explore how caregiver talk and everyday interactions relate to early brain and behavior development.
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.