THE MUSVIP PROTOCOL: PERSPECTIVES FROM MALAYSIAN OLDER ADULTS WITH PARKINSON’S ON MUSIC THERAPY

Abstract

Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic degenerative neuromuscular disease that is caused by a sudden drop in the neurotransmitter dopamine and associated with the disintegration of the basal ganglia in the brain. Symptoms of the disease are characterized by both motor and non-motor problems marked by uncontrollable tremors, muscular rigidity and slow imprecise movements. In addition, people with Parkinson’s typically suffer voice impairments which worsen over time. Research reports that 90 percent of all people with Parkinson’s Disease will manifest voice impairments. This seriously affects patients’ quality of life and often causes patients to develop secondary co-morbidities such as anxiety disorder and depression. Research shows that pharmacological and surgical treatments such as brain stimulation surgery are standard treatments for this disease. Unfortunately, where these treatments are partially successful in improving motor symptoms, they have not reported any significant improvements to voice impairments. Research further indicates that loss of communication is both life-threatening and psychologically devastating. In its final stages, Parkinson’s Disease can leave the patient totally unable to swallow and speak, causing many patients to cease regular activities of daily living and withdraw from socializing. Current medical research champions emerging non-pharmacological treatments such as therapeutic singing as a non-surgical and non-invasive way to intervene with voice impairments. A growing body of research has recorded promising effects. This includes the results of a pilot study conducted at the Malaysian Parkinson’s Disease Association (MPDA) which have demonstrated a range of positive benefits from the perspective of the MPDA patients. This article introduces the context for the development of the MusVIP voice rehabilitation protocol based on the benefits of a music therapy-based therapeutic singing approach for voice rehabilitation as evidenced from patients’ self-reports.