Tracking breathing, voice, and speech changes in Parkinson's disease
Comprehensive assessment of speech physiology and acoustics in Parkinson's disease progression
This project follows people with Parkinson's and links changes in breathing, voice, and mouth movements to everyday speech and communication problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11264783 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have Parkinson's, the team will follow your speech over time and measure how breathing, vocal fold function, and mouth/tongue movements change as the disease progresses. They will record acoustic samples (what your voice sounds like), collect patient-centered questionnaires about how speech affects your daily life, and take physiological measurements of the speech subsystems. The study will compare which simple sound-based tests reflect the underlying physiological changes and which changes matter most to patients. The aim is to identify practical speech markers that clinics can use to track progression and focus therapy on the problems that reduce communication the most.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who are experiencing changes in speech or voice and can attend study visits are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without Parkinson's disease or those whose speech problems are due to non-Parkinson's causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help clinicians target therapy to the speech mechanisms that most affect everyday communication and introduce simple acoustic tests usable in routine clinics.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked some acoustic measures to Parkinsonian speech, but this comprehensive, longitudinal linking of physiology, acoustics, and patient-centered outcomes is largely new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University (Charles River Campus) — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stepp, Cara E. — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: Stepp, Cara E.
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 below.