Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for Dysphonia and Dysarthria: A Systematic Review

Principles and Practice of Clinical Research

Schreiber, F., de Lima Froio, N., et al. (2023).

Principles and Practice of Clinical Research, 8(4), 10.21801/ppcrj.2022.84.10.

This systematic review investigates the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on phonation, voice quality, intelligibility, speech muscle strength, and quality of life of individuals with dysphonia and dysarthria.

No funding received

2012 to September 2022

Randomized controlled trials, observational studies, case series, and case reports

4

Four studies investigating the effects of NMES found improvements in muscle strength and muscle tension resulting in reduced speech quivering and improved sound pressure levels in adults with dysphonia and dysarthria. While the authors conclude that "NMES may be an effective and promising tool for the rehabilitation of patients with speech disorders" (p. 4), they note that the research is limited by the few available studies, the lack of randomized controlled trials, the lack of medium to long-term follow-up, and the lack of quality of life outcomes. Additional research on NMES is warranted.