A (single case) rehabilitation program based on cueing for freezing of speech.

BACKGROUND: Freezing of speech (FoS) and other repetitive speech behaviours can frequently occur in parkinsonian syndromes, worsening the efficacy of language functioning, hampering social interactions, and thus reducing quality of life. Pharmacological treatment are ineffective and other interventions have not specifically developed so far.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to test the efficacy on a pilot rehabilitation program for freezing of speech based on cueing.

SETTING: Outpatient clinic.

POPULATION: Single-case.

METHODS: We developed a pilot rehabilitation program based on visual, auditory and sensory cueing. The patient underwent the protocol for a 6-month period (1-hour sessions, 3 times weekly). Perceptual analyses of his speech were performed before and after the rehabilitation program by to different blinded reviewers.

RESULTS: There has been a reduction of FoS and other iterative speech episodes. Intelligibility also improved according to both the patient and his relatives.

CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results show that visual, auditory and sensory cueing can be effective to prevent and overcome FoS episodes. Possible underlying mechanisms of the improvement are discussed.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Rehabilitation programs based on cueing should be considered and offered in Parkinsonian patients exhibiting FoS or other iterative speech phenomena.