Communication
Solari A, Mattarozzi K, Vignatelli L, et al. Development and validation of a patient self-assessed questionnaire on satisfaction with communication of the multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Mult Scler 2010; 16(10):1237-47.
The development and clinical validation of a patient self-administered tool assessing the quality of multiple sclerosis diagnosis disclosure is described. The questionnaire was well accepted. The authors conclude that COSM-R is a brief, easy-to-interpret MS-specific questionnaire for use as a health care indicator.
MacKenzie C, Green J. Cognitive-linguistic deficit and speech intelligibility in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. Int J Lang Comm Dis 2009; 44(4):401-420.
This study aimed to investigate the presence and nature of cognitive-linguistic deficit, the association between levels of cognitive-linguistic ability and speech intelligibility, and of both of these with functional disability and time since onset of multiple sclerosis symptoms. The results revealed a strong association between dysarthria, as measured by connected speech intelligibility testing, and cognitive-linguistic deficit, in people with chronic progressive MS.
Blaney BE, Lowe-Strong A. The impact of fatigue on communication in multiple sclerosis. The insider's perspective. Disabil Rehabil 2009; 31(3):170-180.
Investigated the relationship between fatigue and communication in people with MS. A phenomenological approach was used in in-depth interviews with 10 people with MS to gain insight into the lived experience of the interaction between MS fatigue and communication. Concludes that fatigue impacts on communication impairment, activity and participation. Self reports have an important role to play in clinical assessment of fatigue and communication in MS. Multidisciplinary team input is vital for the effective management of clients with MS fatigue and communication change.
Chiara T, Martin D, Sapienza C. Expiratory muscle strength training: speech production outcomes in patients with multiple sclerosis. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2007; 21 (3): 239-249.
17 people with MS were compared with 15 controls for expiratory muscle strength training as a method of improving voice production, dysarthria and voice-related quality of life issues in MS. 8 weeks of training were followed by 4 weeks of no training. People with MS scored more poorly than controls on all measures prior to training. Training improved maximal expiratory pressure but had no effect on voice production or voice-related quality of life, so this study was negative overall.
Yorkston KM, Baylor CR, Klasner ER, et al. Satisfaction with communicative participation as defined by adults with multiple sclerosis: A qualitative study. J Commun Disord 2006; 40(6): 433-51.
8 people with MS were interviewed and asked to discuss their satisfaction with communication. A number of issues were raised including comfort, success of communication, and personal meaning of participation. This study confirms findings from other studies.
Arnott W, Jordan F, Murdoch B, Lethlean J. Narrative discourse in multiple sclerosis: an investigation of conceptual structure. Aphasiology 1997;11(10): 969-991.
Study compared people with MS with controls and found differences in narrative discourse relating to the production of less essential information and differences in the nature of information conveyed by people with MS.
Foley FW, Dince WM, Bedell JR, et al. Psychoremediation of communication skills for cognitively impaired persons with multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Rehabil. 1994;8:165-176.
Describes a cognitive-behavioural approach to treating communication skills in people with MS who are cognitively impaired.
Hartelius L, Theodoros D, Cahill L, Lillvik M. Comparability of perceptual analysis of speech characteristics in Australian and Swedish speakers with multiple sclerosis. Fol Phoniat et Logopaedica 2003;55(4):177-88.
Compared Australian and Swedish people with MS to determine whether judgments of dysarthria differ depending on the language spoken. Study found that perceptual assessments of speech difficulty can be made irrespective of the speaker’s language.
Hartelius L, Lillvik M. Lip and tongue function differently affected in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica 2003;55(1):1-9.
77 people, with and without dysarthria, and 15 control subjects, were compared in tests of lip and tongue function. Found that tongue function can be detected clinically using a dysarthria test and should be an early target in therapeutic interventions.
Hartelius L, Wising C, Nord L. Speech modification in dysarthria associated with multiple sclerosis: an intervention based on vocal efficiency, contrastive stress and verbal repair strategies. Journal of Medical Speech-Language Pathology 2997;5(2):113-39.
Tested a therapeutic intervention based on increased vocal efficiency with contrastive stress and verbal repair strategies on 7 people with MS and dysarthria. 5 of the 7 showed improved outcomes and those with negative outcomes were able to improve their ability to indicate stress and make improved verbal repairs compared with before the therapeutic intervention.
Hartelius L, Buder E, Strand E. Long-term phonatory instability in individuals with multiple sclerosis. J Speech Lang and Hear Res 1997;40:1056-72.
Describes and quantifies phonatory instability of individuals with MS compared with controls.
Hartelius L, Runmarker B, Anderson O. Prevalence and characteristics of dysarthria in a multiple sclerosis incidence cohort: relation to neurological data. Folia Phoniat et Logopedica 2000;52:160-177.
This article summarises findings related to 11 participants examined by a speech pathologist and a neurologist. It discusses the relationship between dysarthria and neurological impairment.
Sapir, S., Pawlas, A., Ramig, L., Seeley, E., Fox, C., & Corboy, J. (2001). Effects of intensive phonatory-respiratory treatment (LSVT) on voice in two individuals with Multiple Sclerosis. J Med Speech-Lang Path, 9(2), 141-151.
Case report of two individuals taking part in a specific treatment programme to improve weak voices. Results showed a significant improvement in sound pressure level and perceptual rating of voice loudness.
Yorkston K, Klasner E, Swanson K. Characteristics of multiple sclerosis as a function of the severity of speech disorders. J Med Speech-Lang Pathol 2003;11(2):73-84.
Discusses the relationship between the level of speech problem and other variables such as physical/function, sensory and other symptoms. Moderate to severe speech disorders tend to co-exist with other symptoms.
Yorkston K, Klasner E, Swanson K. Communication in context:a qualitative study of the experiences of individuals with multiple sclerosis. Am J Speech-Lang Path 2001; 10: 126-137.
Qualitative study of seven people with MS and their everyday experiences of life and how MS impacts on this. The study discusses the need to develop relevant assessments and outcome measures.