Table 1 Study information and sample characteristics of the articles included in the review
From: Speech deficits in multiple sclerosis: a narrative review of the existing literature
Study | Dx/type | Mean age | Male | Female | Tests used to establish diagnosis | Additional details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[62] | 47 RRMS 20 HC | 35,42 | 19 | 28 | EDSS [38] | Inclusion criteria were the following: the patients had to be monolingual (the primary language of the patients was Persian) Exclusion criteria included the following: 1) an upper respiratory tract infection or colds within the 3 weeks prior to the sample recording, 2) previous vocal problems, 3) laryngeal microsurgery, 4) recent endotracheal intubation, 5) severe problems in speech perception, 6) smoking, 7) drug or alcohol consumption, 8) anatomical problems of articulatory organs (lips, tongue, etc.), 9) hormonal disorders or hormone therapy, and 10) the patient being in a relapse phase within a month preceding the study No evidence that patients’ age was over 18 Control group existence |
[63] | 107 RRMS 18 SPMS 10 PPMS 6 CIS 70 HC | 44 | 40 | 101 | McDonald Criteria [64], EDSS [38] MSFC [65] | Inclusion criteria: a neurologically diagnosis confirmed All patients were relapse-free for at least 30 days prior to testing The patients’ age was over 18 Control group existence |
[31] | 100 RRMS 40 HC | 40.85 | 32 | 68 | - | Inclusion criteria were the following: a) definite diagnosis of MS, as confirmed by neurological diagnosis, b) the patients were native English speakers and had enough mobility in the upper limbs to be able to fill in questionnaires The patients’ age was over 18 Control group existence |
[66] | 7 SPMS 2 RRMS 2 PPMS 14 HC | 53.1 | 6 | 5 | – | Inclusion criteria: a) Only patients with MS who exhibited symptoms of dysarthria as determined by a certified speech-language pathologist with expertise in motor speech disorders were included in the current study b) All participants were required to pass a standard hearing screening and achieve a score of ≥ 25/30 on the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) The patients’ age was over 18 Control group existence |
[67] | 50 MS 50 HC | 48.5 | 38 | 62 | – | Exclusion criteria included: 1) presence of voice disorder prior to appearance of neurological or clinical symptoms, 2) previous larynx microsurgery, 3) recent episode of endotracheal intubation, 4) primary or metastatic tumor of the larynx, 5) lung or mediastinum, diagnosis of respiratory disease (acute/ chronic) and 6) any other neurological disorders other than MS The patients’ age was over 18 Control group existence |
[51] | 38 RRMS 38 HC | 44 | 15 | 23 | EDSS [38] | Patients with MS were selected randomly Exclusion criteria included the following: 1) endotracheal intubation within 3 months before entry, 2) history of laryngeal malignancy, 3) an operation performed on the larynx and vocal chords, or an acute upper airway respiratory infection The patients’ age was over 18 Control group existence |
[55] | 118 MS 22 HC | 45.5 | 30 | 88 | EDSS [38] | Exclusion criteria included the following: 1) presence of other neurological or neuromuscular disorder, 2) MS relapse within the last 3 months, 3) impaired vision or hearing resulting in an inability to complete the testing protocol and 4) speech impairment not related to MS (e.g., stuttering, vocal tics) The patients’ age was over 18 Control group existence |
[59] | 18 RRMS 11 SPMS 4 PPMS 23 HC | 38.8 | 10 | 23 | EDSS [38] | Inclusion criteria: Participants were MS patients with individual disease burden as expressed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and with microstructural brain damage as measured by the fractional anisotropy (FA) on Diffusion Tensor Imaging were performed The patients’ age was over 18 Control group existence |
[61] | 85 MS 21 HC | 47.8 | 22 | 63 | EDSS [38] | Exclusion criteria included the following: [1] the presence of other neurological or neuromuscular disorder, [2] MS relapse within the last 3 months, [3] impaired vision or hearing resulting in an inability to complete the testing protocol and [4] speech impairment not related to MS (e.g., stuttering, vocal tics) The patients’ age was over 18 Control group existence |
[68] | 18 SPMS 35 RRMS 7 HC | 49.5 | 18 | 35 | – | The statistical analysis shows that both the results from the acoustical analysis and vowel metric analysis have a confidence level of 95% and thus the healthy and non-healthy subjects show significant differences No evidence that the patients’ age was over 18 Control group existence |
[69] | 97 RRMS 15 SPMS 3 CIS 8 PPMS 60 HS | 44 | 31 | 92 | MRI MSFC [65] EDSS [38] | MS patients had eight years elementary education and no professional use of their voice through employment The patients’ age was over 18 Control group existence |
[70] | 48 MS with dysarthria 12 MS without dysarthria 12 HC | 52 | 20 | 40 | McDonald Criteria [64] | All participants spoke standard American English and reported no vision or hearing problems or use of a hearing aid, no substance abuse, no other neurological or neuropsychiatric diseases, no use of corticosteroids for the relapse of MS within 8 weeks of testing, and no medication changes for treatment or symptoms of MS within 12 weeks of testing The patients’ age was over 18 Control group existence |