Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener. 2013 Jan;14(1):20-5. doi: 10.3109/17482968.2012.692382. Epub 2012 Aug 7.
Dysarthria has a drastic impact on the quality of life of ALS patients. Most patients suffering from dysarthria are offered speech therapy. Communication devices are prescribed less frequently. In the present study we investigated the impact of these therapeutic arrangements on quality of life in ALS patients. Thirty-eight ALS patients with dysarthria or anarthria, who underwent speech therapy and/or used communication devices answered three standardized questionnaires (Beck Depression Inventory - II (BDI), SF-36 Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36) and ALS Functional Rating Scale-revised (ALSFRS-R)) and were further interviewed about their experience with and benefit of speech therapy and communication devices. Most of the patients described a high impact of the communication device on their quality of life while the influence of speech therapy was rated less. By multiple regression analysis we confirmed an independent positive effect of communication device use on depression and psychological distress. In conclusion, communication systems improve or at least stabilize quality of life and mood in dysarthric ALS patients, and should be provided early in the disease course.
肌病性构音障碍对 ALS 患者的生活质量有重大影响。大多数患有构音障碍的患者都接受了言语治疗。而使用交流设备的情况则比较少见。在本研究中，我们调查了这些治疗方案对 ALS 患者生活质量的影响。38 名患有构音障碍或无言语障碍的 ALS 患者接受了言语治疗和/或使用了交流设备，他们回答了三个标准化问卷（贝克抑郁量表第二版（BDI）、健康调查简表（SF-36）和肌萎缩侧索硬化功能评定量表修订版（ALSFRS-R）），并进一步接受了关于他们对言语治疗和交流设备的体验和受益的访谈。大多数患者表示交流设备对他们的生活质量有很大的影响，而言语治疗的影响则较小。通过多元回归分析，我们证实了使用交流设备对抑郁和心理困扰有独立的积极影响。总之，交流系统可以改善或至少稳定构音障碍 ALS 患者的生活质量和情绪，应在疾病早期提供。
