What does this research mean for the field?

Individuals with Parkinson's disease seeking speech therapy frequently present with cognitive impairments that are associated with worse self-reported voice handicaps, despite having no significant differences in objective acoustic voice measures compared to cognitively intact patients. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To establish a cognitive profile of individuals with Parkinson's disease and dysphonia seeking speech therapy, and to compare objective and subjective voice deficits between patients with and without cognitive impairment.

September 2, 2026Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups

Profiling Cognition and Speech in Individuals With Parkinson's Disease Seeking Speech Therapy

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Authors

JPJean Marie PriscottSacred Heart University CPCristina Pino ESElizabeth Schoen SimmonsSacred Heart University

Discussion

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Implication

Cross-sectional study finds high rates of cognitive impairment and greater perceived voice handicap in dysphonic Parkinson's disease, highlighting the need for cognitive screening in voice therapy.

Key Points

To establish a cognitive profile of individuals with Parkinson's disease and dysphonia seeking speech therapy, and to compare objective and subjective voice deficits between patients with and without cognitive impairment.
Assessed cognitive performance in 15 individuals with Parkinson's disease (10 male, 5 female; aged 54–77 years) using Level I screening and a Level II comprehensive neuropsychological battery.
Categorized participants into nonimpaired (PD-NC) and impaired (PD-IC) cognitive groups based on Level II criteria.
Compared acoustic measures of voice quality (cepstral peak prominence, Cepstral Spectral Index of Dysphonia, pitch variability) and self-reported Voice Handicap Index scores between groups.
Cognitive impairment was identified in 40% (6/15) of participants using Level I screening versus 60% (9/15) using Level II comprehensive testing, with executive function and visuospatial skills being the most consistently impaired domains.
Participants with cognitive impairment reported significantly higher Voice Handicap Index scores compared to participants with normal cognition.
No statistically significant differences were detected between the cognitively impaired and nonimpaired groups across acoustic voice metrics, including cepstral peak prominence, Cepstral Spectral Index of Dysphonia, and pitch variability.

Cite This Study

Priscott et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a97e318c562ede874ec7a40 https://doi.org/10.1044/2026_persp-25-00110

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September 2, 2026Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups

Profiling Cognition and Speech in Individuals With Parkinson's Disease Seeking Speech Therapy

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

JPJean Marie PriscottSacred Heart University CPCristina Pino ESElizabeth Schoen SimmonsSacred Heart University

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Cross-sectional study finds high rates of cognitive impairment and greater perceived voice handicap in dysphonic Parkinson's disease, highlighting the need for cognitive screening in voice therapy.

Key Points

To establish a cognitive profile of individuals with Parkinson's disease and dysphonia seeking speech therapy, and to compare objective and subjective voice deficits between patients with and without cognitive impairment.
Assessed cognitive performance in 15 individuals with Parkinson's disease (10 male, 5 female; aged 54–77 years) using Level I screening and a Level II comprehensive neuropsychological battery.
Categorized participants into nonimpaired (PD-NC) and impaired (PD-IC) cognitive groups based on Level II criteria.
Compared acoustic measures of voice quality (cepstral peak prominence, Cepstral Spectral Index of Dysphonia, pitch variability) and self-reported Voice Handicap Index scores between groups.
Cognitive impairment was identified in 40% (6/15) of participants using Level I screening versus 60% (9/15) using Level II comprehensive testing, with executive function and visuospatial skills being the most consistently impaired domains.
Participants with cognitive impairment reported significantly higher Voice Handicap Index scores compared to participants with normal cognition.
No statistically significant differences were detected between the cognitively impaired and nonimpaired groups across acoustic voice metrics, including cepstral peak prominence, Cepstral Spectral Index of Dysphonia, and pitch variability.

Cite This Study

Priscott et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a97e318c562ede874ec7a40 https://doi.org/10.1044/2026_persp-25-00110

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark