PD COMM pilot was a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of a full scale trial on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two types of speech and language therapy (SLT) for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who self reported problems with voice or speech. Participants were randomised to Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), standard NHS SLT or control (with SLT deferred for at least 6 months).
The trial assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the different types of SLT and informed the trial design of a full scale phase III trial including: patient eligibility, recruitment and retention, patient acceptability, sample size calculation, suitability of outcome measures and pilot health economic evaluation.
The trial was necessarily open label due to the nature of the intervention although assessors of recorded speech will be blinded to treatment.