Ms Jessica Lamond1,2,8, Ms Geena Cheung2, Dr Nicola A Clayton3,4,8, Dr Yun Tae Hwang5,6,7
1Movement Disorders and Parkinson’s Disease Service, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, , Australia, 2Speech Pathology Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, , Australia, 3School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, , Australia, 4Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sydney, , Australia, 5Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, , Australia, 6Department of Neurology, Gosford Hospital, , Australia, 7Central Coast Clinical School, University of Newcastle, , Australia, 8Speech Pathology Department, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, , Australia
Biography:
Jessica Lamond is a Senior Speech Pathologist with the Movement Disorders and Parkinson’s Disease Service at Concord Hospital. She is passionate about driving new and innovative methods to engage with and improve outcomes for people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Abstract:
Group singing has emerged as a promising intervention to address communication changes in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study aimed to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of therapeutic group singing, delivered via telehealth, for people with PD on voice, communicative function, and social connection. People living with PD/Parkinsonism were purposively recruited from the Sydney Local Health District outpatient Speech Pathology caseload. Eligible participants were invited to attend eight weekly telehealth group singing sessions, delivered jointly by a Registered Music Therapist (RMT) and a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP). All six participants (3-male; range 55-76 years) demonstrated consistency/improvement in vocal intensity (0-9dB) across ≥1 tasks, with 80% demonstrating maintenance at ten-weeks post intervention. 80% of participants demonstrated improvements in MPT (2-9 seconds) and pitch range (54-124Hz). Voice gains were greater for people with higher cognitive ability. 100% demonstrated perceived improvement in social connection although qualitative feedback revealed a theme of inability to experience the ‘joy’ of ‘singing as one united voice’. Therapeutic group singing delivered via Telehealth is feasible with potential to positively impact voice and social connection outcomes in people with PD. Addressing limitations related to telehealth delivery of this intervention may improve patient experience and engagement.