Background: Parkinson’ s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder and many PD patients experience some type of voice and speech disorders during the course of illness. In this study, the aim was to investigate the effect of Lee Silverman voice treatment (LSVT) on improving voice difficulties in patients with mild PD using voice handicap index (VHI). Methods: This interventional study was conducted on 23 PD patients who were randomly divided into 2 groups: a treatment group (PD-T) (n=13) and a no-treatment group (PD-NT) (n=10). Neurologically healthy control (NNC) group consisted of 13 healthy participants who did not suffer from voice and speech problems and were matched with PD group by age (50-65 years), sex, and education. VHI questionnaire was completed a day before the start of LSVT and a day after the treatment fulfillment for the PD-T group; the same time spots were applied for the PD-NT and NNC groups. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Statistics 22. 0 and significance level was set at 0. 05. The multivariate analysis of variance and repeated measure analysis of variance were used for data analysis. Results: PD groups showed a significant weakness in VHI scores before treatment compared to NNC group (p≤ 0. 001). The mean of VHI scores for PD-T, PD-NT, and NNC groups before treatment was 44. 31± 11. 23, 43. 54± 6. 10, and 8. 15± 4. 27, respectively. LSVT was successful in improving VHI scores in PD-T group (17. 23± 5. 35, p≤ 0. 001). However, no improvement was observed in PD-NT group (44. 00± 5. 88). Conclusion: Improvement in VHI score could be the result of ameliorated self-monitoring and self-regulation created by LSVT.

Objectives: In the early stages, most Parkinson’ s patients display some degrees of voice and speech disorders. Speech disorders can negatively affect individuals’ social interactions and life; thus, treatment plans for the disorders in the early stages might be further beneficial than the late stages. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of an intervention on Persianspeaking patients with early mild Parkinson’ s Disease (PD). The intervention was the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT). Methods: This was an interventional study and included 23 patients with PD. The study participants were randomly assigned into one of two groups; 13 patients in the intervention group (PD-I), and 10 in No-Intervention (PD-NI) group. Normal Persons (NP) or the control group included 13 healthy participants who were neurologically normal and presented no speech and voice disorders. Besides, they were matched with the PD-I group concerning education, age, gender. Results: There was a significant impairment in Maximum Phonation Time (MPT), vocal loudness in vowel /a/, in reading, and during a monologue speech in the PD group, compared with the NP group (P≤ 0. 001). The LSVT resulted in a significant improvement in all measures in the PD-I group (P≤ 0. 001); however, no significant change was observed between the PD-I and PD-NI groups’ scores in first assessment (P≥ 0. 201). In contrast, the PD-NI group’ s results in all measurements of final assessment were significantly lower than those in the PD-I (P≤ 0. 001) and NP (P≤ 0. 001) groups. The MPT also exhibited a considerable improvement in the PD-I group, compared with the controls. Discussion: The LSVT, as a therapeutic technique based on the motor learning theory was beneficial in improving the vocal loudness of Persian-speaking patients with PD in the early stages of their disease.

‎‎‎‎‎‎Let $‎\mathbb{Z}_m$ be the ring of integers modulo $m$ in which $m=2^n$ for arbitrary $n$‎. ‎In this paper‎, ‎we will obtain a relationship between $wt_L(x)‎, ‎wt_L(y)$ and $wt_L(x+y)$ for any $x‎, ‎y \in ‎\mathbb{Z}_m$‎. ‎‎Let ‎$‎‎d_r^L(C)$‎‎ ‎denote ‎the ‎‎$r‎‎$‎-th generalized Lee weight for code $C$ in which ‎$‎‎C$ ‎is ‎a linear code of length $n$ over $‎\mathbb{Z}_4$‎. Also, ‎suppose that $C_1$ and $ C_2$ are two codes over $‎\mathbb{Z}_4$ and $C$ denotes the $(u‎, ‎u+v)$-construction of them‎. ‎In this paper‎, we will obtain an upper bound for $d_r^L(C)$ for all $r$‎, ‎$1 \leq r \leq rank(C)$‎. In addition, ‎we will obtain $d_1^L(C)$ in terms of $d_1^L(C_1)$ and $d_1^L(C_2)$.

Introduction: Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a degenerative neurogenic disorder characterized by multiple symptoms affecting the movements and autonomic nervous system. It reduces the function of various types of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. MSA causes some movement disorders such as dysarthria that is one of the most common symptoms in these patients. The first neurological sign that sometimes progresses is the complete inability to produce speech. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an intensive voice therapy based on the principles of Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT) on improving acoustic features, intelligibility, and quality of life index of the patients with MSA. Materials and Methods: The patient was a 57-year-old woman with MSA disorder. Acoustic assessments of voice, intelligibility, and voice handicap index were performed before and after the treatment program according to LSVT principles. Results: Acoustic values such as intensity, frequency, and harmonic to noise ratio increased, and jitter and shimmer parameters decreased. Amount of perception of intelligibility increased. A significant decrease in the scores of the quality of life index related to voice handicap was observed. Conclusion: After treatment by intensive voice therapy, the acoustic assessment revealed improvement in all voice parameters. The perceptual assessment showed improved intelligibility and increased the patient’ s quality of life. Intensive voice therapy based on LSVT principles effectively improves the acoustic features, which subsequently cause intelligibility to be more comprehensible. It generally improves verbal communication, which has a positive effect on the patient’ s quality of life.