Speech in Friedreich’s Ataxia study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study of speech analysis in a cohort of patients with Friedreich’s Ataxia
IRAS ID
269095
Contact name
Alastair Wilkins
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is an incurable neurological disorder, typically presenting in late childhood, which causes significant disability (typically poor co-ordination, walking problems and speech disturbance). There have been numerous studies looking at possible new therapies for FA, but, as yet, no treatment has been shown to reduce or slow down disability. The success of trials for a range of neurological diseases crucially depends on the ability to measure an effect of treatment. Current trials in FA rely on clinical rating scales, measuring things like walking speed or hand co-ordination. However, these rating scales are rather subjective and may not be sensitive enough to pick up crucial effects of the therapy being tested. Therefore, there is an urgent need for better ways of testing the success or otherwise of clinical trials. People with FA usually have problems with speech articulation (‘slurred speech’ or dysarthria). This study will use phone ‘apps’ which record speech in people with FA which will then be analysed to give a precise measure of the degree of speech abnormalities. We will study participants over time (6 months) to determine whether such an approach is helpful in monitoring the disease. Participants will vocalise into a recording device (app on phone), from which numerous measures of speech will be derived. Clinical assessments and the rating scales mentioned above will be used alongside these measures to determine how useful they are in a clinical setting. This project will allow for development of better clinical trials for FA and related conditions.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NE/0017
Date of REC Opinion
11 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion