Parkinson's disease (PD) can affect speech, leading to hypokinetic dysarthria (HD). This means the voice may sound harsh, with trouble in pitch and loudness variation. The study will test if combining speech therapy with a method called tDCS (transcranial Direct Current Stimulation) can improve speech in PD patients. tDCS is a type of non-invasive brain stimulation, meaning it doesn't require surgery. Patients will get 20 sessions of home-based tDCS along with regular speech therapy known as LSVT (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment), which is a common treatment for HD. The study will last 8 weeks, with assessments at the start, after 4 weeks, and at the end.
- Duration: 8-week study with 3 main visits.
- No invasive procedures; tDCS is safe and done at home.
- Focus on improving speech through combined therapy.
To participate, you need to have PD and not have conditions like epilepsy or metal in the body that may interfere with MRI scans. This study helps researchers understand new ways to enhance speech therapy for those with PD.