Expiratory muscle strength training in the treatment of mixed dysarthria in a patient with Lance-Adams syndrome

The results of an expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) program is described in the rehabilitation of mixed dysarthria in a patient with Lance-Adams syndrome secondary to a motor vehicle accident (MVA) with associated traumatic brain injury (TBI). A pretest-posttest design was employed. Following EMST, maximum phonation duration, intelligibility scores of 14-word sentences, and Communicative Effectiveness Survey (CES) scores increased. Three months after the discontinuation of EMST, maximum phonation duration had decreased but remained increased in comparison to pretreatment performance, while intelligibility scores dropped below baseline level. CES scores continued to increase following the discontinuation of treatment. These data suggest that EMST was associated with a therapeutic effect for this patient, as evidenced by improved performance measured pre- and posttreatment. Copyright © 2006 by Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.