Identifying Preferred Speech Treatment Approaches among Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a debilitating neurological disorder characterized by motor symptoms and significant communication impairments that adversely affect patients' quality of life. Nevertheless, few Parkinson's disease patients seek speech therapy, which may worsen their communication challenges as the disease progresses. Given the limited awareness of Parkinson's disease patient preferences regarding speech approaches, speech therapists face a significant challenge in determining which approaches would be most acceptable to these patients. The aim of this study, therefore, was to identify preferred speech treatment approaches among Saudi patients with Parkinson's disease. A Google Form survey was distributed to PD patients to collect data on their demographics, language difficulties, and treatment preferences, as well as factors influencing these preferences. Findings from 74 Saudi patients with PD indicate a preference for Home Exercise Therapy as a speech treatment approach, due to its convenience in location and scheduling. These results underscore the need to recognize patients' preferred treatment methods to encourage regular participation in speech therapy and potentially mitigate the decline of their communication skills. Future research should explore the long-term effects of allowing PD patients to choose their preferred speech treatment approaches as well as the potential benefits of involving families in the decision-making process.