Video game-based speech rehabilitation for reducing dysarthria severity in adults with degenerative ataxia

Abstract

Background and aims: Dysarthria affects all individuals with degenerative ataxia. No treatments halt or reverse the effects of disease progression. There is no evidence supporting the use of speech therapy to reduce dysarthria severity. We aimed to evaluate the utility and efficacy of intensive, home-based exergame rehabilitation for improving speech intelligibility in adults with Friedreich ataxia. Methods: A single blinded delayed entry cross-over trial control design was used. 6 individuals with FRDA were recruited. Participants were provided with a Sony PlayStation 4, and a karaoke based game, ’Singstar’. The video game based interface required participants to sing 30 minutes per day, 5..