Clinical Feasibility & Validation of the Virtual Reality GlenxRose Speech-Language Therapies

Speech Disorders, Vocal Cord Dysfunction

Vocal, Speech, Speech-Language Pathology, Virtual Reality, VR

Factors related to successful rehabilitation are often directly related to adherence; for instance, dosage, frequency, and intensity can burden the patient regarding time and motivational factors. Furthermore, surrounding salience, patients may lose interest or find an intervention boring after a few sessions. It is well documented that nonadherence not only impacts rehabilitation for the patient but can also further prolong treatment, and increase hospital and clinician costs, in addition to a higher prevalence of future comorbidities. Therefore, strategies that improve patient adherence can significantly help optimize patient care and treatment outcomes. One avenue to increase patient adherence is through the gamification of rehabilitation therapies using virtual reality (VR). Gamification of rehabilitation therapy can make mass practice required in rehabilitation therapies seemingly fun and more personally engaging for the patient. Additionally, the immersive experience achieved through VR can further promote salience and be customizable to individual patient requirements. As VR systems are now highly portable and relatively simple to utilize, they can provide an excellent opportunity to continue rehabilitation practice on the home front. Overall, the VR gamification of rehabilitation may increase adherence by shifting patients' perspectives of therapy as tedious, boring, or a hassle, to a fun and engaging game that ultimately helps their recovery processes. The GlenXRose VR-delivered speech-language therapies (Cognitive Projections Lab, University of Alberta) have been developed and piloted in collaboration with the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital with the overall goal of increasing patient adherence, treatment outcomes, and satisfaction with vocal therapy. The proposed studies are to investigate the feasibility of implementing this technology in routine clinical care (specific to voice disorders), obtaining clinician feedback, examining associated financial costs, and continuing to examine the effect of the GlenXRose VR speech-language therapies on patient adherence and clinical outcomes, compared to traditional clinical care.

Nonadherence to Speech-Language rehabilitation can result in suboptimal vocal recovery or compensation methods while impacting the quality of life and further burdening the healthcare system. In addition to traditional face-to-face voice therapy, many patients are further given daily voice exercises to practice at home. It is estimated that 38-74% of patients are nonadherent to voice therapies (Ebersole et al., 2018); with such a large prevalence, opportunities to prevent and mitigate nonadherence to voice therapy can significantly promote clinical/functional outcomes. In a recent meta-analysis, it is reported that methods increasing adherence to speech-language rehabilitation further promote home practice (Bartlett et al., 2022). One identified method of promise includes technological approaches (Bartlett et al., 2022) such as the GlenXRose VR Speech-Language therapies (VR-SLP). Purpose & Objective: The GlenXRose VR-SLP program, developed by the Cognitive Projections lab at the University of Alberta in collaboration with the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, provides patients with gamified vocal exercises, therapies, and education delivered through immersive virtual reality. With the degree of VR portability, patients will be able to take the equipment home to facilitate at-home vocal practice. The objective of these studies is to examine the feasibility of implementing the previously developed GlenXRose VR Speech Language therapies (VR-SLP) to routine clinical care delivered by Speech-Language Pathologists to patients with vocal cord disorders. The variables of patient adherence to treatment as well as preliminary effects on vocal measurements (Voice Handicapped Index - 10; Acoustic Analysis of Voice) will be explored.

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