Parkinson DiseaseNCT03263793
High-intensity Group Vocal Exercise to Improve Laryngeal Function in Patients With Parkinson Disease
A study testing Choral (group) singing therapy sessions in people with Parkinson Disease, run by NYU Langone Health at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The overall goal of this T2 translational research project is to pilot an interdisciplinary high-intensity group singing program to improve speech and swallowing in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and to explore the impact of this program on quality of life (QOL). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages Up to 100 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Parkinson Disease
- What is being tested?
- Choral (group) singing therapy sessions
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 18 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 22 Aug 2017to 13 Dec 2017
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Up to 100 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Confirmed diagnosis of Stage One, Two or Three on the Hoehn and Yahr Staging of Parkinson's Disease
- Current swallowing severity of normal, mild, or moderate without aspiration
- Stable regimen of anti-PD medication for >30 days
Who cannot join
- Prior voice and/or swallowing therapy related to PD
- History of head and neck cancer
- History of oropharyngeal or laryngeal surgery
- Current or former smoker (quit < 5 years)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
New York University School of Medicine
New York, New York, 10016
About this study
The overall goal of this T2 translational research project is to pilot an interdisciplinary high-intensity group singing program to improve speech and swallowing in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and to explore the impact of this program on quality of life (QOL). This research has three specific aims: 1) Determine the effects of a high-intensity group vocal training program on vocal function and laryngeal structure; 2) Determine the transference of vocal training to laryngeal aspects of swallowing; 3) Determine the effect of patient-reported changes in Quality of Life (QOL) as the result of participation in a group vocal training program.
Twenty patients with Parkinson Disease will be recruited from the Fresco Institute for Parkinson's \& Movement Disorders to participate in a 12-week vocal training program. The program will train participants using maximum vocal function exercises targeting vocal deficits specific to PD. Choral singing therapy sessions will be conducted once weekly with daily home practice exercises based on principles that have been successful in other intensive PD vocal exercise programs.
Read the detailed description
Deterioration of speech and swallowing is a hallmark of Parkinson Disease (PD). There is emerging evidence that choral singing benefits people with PD across a range of modalities. Despite the increasing popularity of "Parkinson's choirs", rigorous study of these benefits is lacking. There is a large body of evidence that intense vocal training improves speech and communication for people with PD. However, the intense training places high demands on clinical and patient resources and, due to its individualized approach, lacks the potential psycho-social benefits of a group intervention.
It is hypothesized singing training program will increase vocal loudness, range of articulation, and prosodic variation during speech. Additionally, given existing evidence for neuroplastic transference of voice-related interventions to swallowing function, laryngeal components of swallowing function will also improve post-intervention. Finally, investigators expect to see improvements in patient-reported QOL measures corresponding with improved speech and laryngeal function and/or as the result of group interaction.
All participants will complete a standardized battery of assessment pre- and post- treatment including acoustic and aerodynamic assessment of voice, dynamic magnetic resonance imaging of speech and swallowing, and videofluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing. The outcome of this work will be a rigorous understanding of how choral singing therapy can positively impact the voice, swallowing function, and quality of life for patients with PD.
- Conditions
- Parkinson Disease
- Being tested
- Choral (group) singing therapy sessions
- Keywords
- singing
- Medical subject headings
- Parkinson Disease
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Choral (group) singing therapy sessionsBehavioural
Choral (group) singing therapy sessions will be conducted once weekly and daily home practice exercises will be assigned. All vocal exercises are based on principles that have been successful in other intensive Parkinson Disease vocal exercise programs.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral vocal training | Experimental | 12-week vocal training program will use maximum vocal function exercises targeting vocal deficits specific to Parkinson Disease. Receives: Behavioral: Choral (group) singing therapy sessions |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Average speaking intensity (dB SPL)
Tasks: Sustained phonation of /a/ at a comfortable pitch and loudness for 4 seconds; pitch glide throughout physiologic vocal range on /a/; standardized reading passage (CAPE-V sentences); 1-minute monologue in response to an emotionally neutral question; singing a standard song.
Measured: 19 Weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Aug 2017
- Study start22 Aug 2017
- Primary completion13 Dec 2017
- Study completion13 Dec 2017
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Parkinson DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by NYU Langone HealthThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 18 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- NYU Langone Health
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Aaron Johnson, MD, Principal investigator, NYU Langone Health
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03263793
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 17-00323
- Status last verified
- Aug 2018
- First submitted
- 24 Aug 2017
- Last updated
- 27 Aug 2018
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Aug 2018. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- High-intensity Group Vocal Exercise to Improve Laryngeal Function in Patients With Parkinson Disease
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03263793
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 17-00323
- Conditions
- Parkinson Disease
- Keywords
- singing
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 18 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- NYU Langone HealthUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 22 Aug 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 13 Dec 2017 (actual)
- Study completion
- 13 Dec 2017 (actual)
- First posted
- 28 Aug 2017 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The overall goal of this T2 translational research project is to pilot an interdisciplinary high-intensity group singing program to improve speech and swallowing in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and to explore the impact of this program on quality of life (QOL). This research has three specific aims: 1) Determine the effects of a high-intensity group vocal training program on vocal function and laryngeal structure; 2) Determine the transference of vocal training to laryngeal aspects of swallowing; 3) Determine the effect of patient-reported changes in Quality of Life (QOL) as the result of participation in a group vocal training program.
Twenty patients with Parkinson Disease will be recruited from the Fresco Institute for Parkinson's \& Movement Disorders to participate in a 12-week vocal training program. The program will train participants using maximum vocal function exercises targeting vocal deficits specific to PD. Choral singing therapy sessions will be conducted once weekly with daily home practice exercises based on principles that have been successful in other intensive PD vocal exercise programs.
Detailed description
Deterioration of speech and swallowing is a hallmark of Parkinson Disease (PD). There is emerging evidence that choral singing benefits people with PD across a range of modalities. Despite the increasing popularity of "Parkinson's choirs", rigorous study of these benefits is lacking. There is a large body of evidence that intense vocal training improves speech and communication for people with PD. However, the intense training places high demands on clinical and patient resources and, due to its individualized approach, lacks the potential psycho-social benefits of a group intervention.
It is hypothesized singing training program will increase vocal loudness, range of articulation, and prosodic variation during speech. Additionally, given existing evidence for neuroplastic transference of voice-related interventions to swallowing function, laryngeal components of swallowing function will also improve post-intervention. Finally, investigators expect to see improvements in patient-reported QOL measures corresponding with improved speech and laryngeal function and/or as the result of group interaction.
All participants will complete a standardized battery of assessment pre- and post- treatment including acoustic and aerodynamic assessment of voice, dynamic magnetic resonance imaging of speech and swallowing, and videofluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing. The outcome of this work will be a rigorous understanding of how choral singing therapy can positively impact the voice, swallowing function, and quality of life for patients with PD.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral vocal training | Experimental | Behavioral: Choral (group) singing therapy sessions12-week vocal training program will use maximum vocal function exercises targeting vocal deficits specific to Parkinson Disease. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- Up to 100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Confirmed diagnosis of Stage One, Two or Three on the Hoehn and Yahr Staging of Parkinson's Disease
- Current swallowing severity of normal, mild, or moderate without aspiration
- Stable regimen of anti-PD medication for >30 days
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Prior voice and/or swallowing therapy related to PD
- History of head and neck cancer
- History of oropharyngeal or laryngeal surgery
- Current or former smoker (quit < 5 years)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Choral (group) singing therapy sessionsChoral (group) singing therapy sessions will be conducted once weekly and daily home practice exercises will be assigned. All vocal exercises are based on principles that have been successful in other intensive Parkinson Disease vocal exercise programs. | Behavioural | Behavioral vocal training |
Primary outcome
Average speaking intensity (dB SPL)
Time frame: 19 Weeks
Tasks: Sustained phonation of /a/ at a comfortable pitch and loudness for 4 seconds; pitch glide throughout physiologic vocal range on /a/; standardized reading passage (CAPE-V sentences); 1-minute monologue in response to an emotionally neutral question; singing a standard song.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 27 Aug 2018.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Aaron Johnson, MD principal investigator
NYU Langone Health
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Choral (group) singing therapy sessions in people with Parkinson Disease, run by NYU Langone Health at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Aug 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Average speaking intensity (dB SPL) (time frame: 19 Weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 27 Aug 2018.