Variables Associated with Self-reported Language Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

CME/CNE Information Activity Available Online: To access the article, post-test, and evaluation online, go to https://www.highmarksce.com/mscare. Target Audience: The target audience for this activity is physicians, physician assistants, nursing professionals, speech pathologists, and other health care providers involved in the management of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Learning Objectives: 1) Identify several variables that may place a person with MS at risk of language symptoms. 2) Describe the role of frontline health care providers in management of language and communication symptoms in patients with MS. Accreditation Statement: In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) and Delaware Media Group. The CMSC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. Physician Credit: The CMSC designates this journal-based activity for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Nurse Credit: The CMSC designates this enduring material for 0.75 contact hour (none in the area of pharmacology). Disclosures: Francois Bethoux, MD, Editor in Chief of the International Journal of MS Care (IJMSC), has served as Physician Planner for this activity. He has disclosed relationships with Springer Publishing (royalty), Qr8 (receipt of intellectual property rights/patent holder), Biogen (receipt of intellectual property rights/patent holder, speakers’ bureau), GW Biosciences (consulting fee), MedRhythms (consulting fee, contracted research), Genentech (consulting fee), Helius Medical Technologies (consulting fee), Osmotica (consulting fee), and Adamas Pharmaceuticals (contracted research). Laurie Scudder, DNP, NP, has served as Reviewer for this activity. She has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Sarah El-Wahsh, BAppSc (Sp Path) (Hons 1), has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Rob Heard, PhD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Hans Bogaardt, PhD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Fiona Kumfor, PhD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Kirrie J. Ballard, PhD, has disclosed founding a start-up unrelated to the topic of this article; to date, the start-up designs apps for delivering speech therapy to children with developmental speech disorders. The peer reviewers for IJMSC have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. The staff at IJMSC, CMSC, and Delaware Media Group who are in a position to influence content have disclosed no relevant financial relationships. Note: Financial relationships may have changed in the interval between listing these disclosures and publication of the article. Method of Participation: Release Date: April 1, 2021 Valid for Credit Through: April 1, 2022 In order to receive CME/CNE credit, participants must: 1) Review the continuing education information, including learning objectives and author disclosures.2) Study the educational content.3) Complete the post-test and evaluation, which are available at https://www.highmarksce.com/mscare. Statements of Credit are awarded upon successful completion of the evaluation and the post-test with a passing score of >70%. The post-test may be retaken if necessary. There is no fee to participate in this activity. Disclosure of Unlabeled Use: This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not approved by the FDA. The CMSC and Delaware Media Group do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of the CMSC or Delaware Media Group. Disclaimer: Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any medications, diagnostic procedures, or treatments discussed in this publication should not be used by clinicians or other health care professionals without first evaluating their patients’ conditions, considering possible contraindications or risks, reviewing any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparing any therapeutic approach with the recommendations of other authorities.

Cognitive impairment, fatigue and depression in multiple sclerosis: Is there a difference between benign and non-benign MS?

“…In a recent study, the relation between cognitive impairment and functional communication was described (El-Wahsh et al, 2021), confirming that language impairment has a large effect on health-related quality of life (El-Wahsh et al, 2019). The high rate of CI, depression and fatigue in PwBMS found in this study raises the question how PwBMS are coping in everyday life, and how the rate of 38% of cognitive impairment in this group would reflect on their employability, their social life and their partners.…”

Objective assessment of dysarthric disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis depending on sex, age, and type of text read

“…A review of the literature focusing on the issues shows that research evaluating the character of speech disorders in MS is limited (15,23). The available dysarthria scales are based on more or less subjective data, which are more difficult to compare (15,(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23).…”

“…A review of the literature focusing on the issues shows that research evaluating the character of speech disorders in MS is limited (15,23). The available dysarthria scales are based on more or less subjective data, which are more difficult to compare (15,(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23). As noted in the review article by Noffs et al objective speech assessment is more accurate, replicable, and feasible when contrasted with perceptual analysis (25) which occurs in the majority of the studies concerning the notion of dysarthria in the course of neurological diseases.…”

“…The observations became the motivator for undertaking the discussed research. Another reason was the fact that researchers currently report there are no MS-specific diagnostic instruments for dysarthria ( 15 , 23 ). Providing there is an objective tool for measuring speech deterioration and its sensitivity to disease activity is confirmed in the studies, dysarthria may, in the future, be used as a biomarker for the progression of the disease ( 15 ).…”

Analysis of dysarthria in a 55-year-old female patient with multiple sclerosis by means of an IT tool based on respiratory and phonatory examination – a case study

“…9 The most frequently reported speech disorders include comprehension problems pertaining to understanding the content of the message, slowed down rate of speech, hoarseness, volume and tone control complications, disfluent speech and problems with swallowing. [9][10][11][12] The motivation for undertaking the study was the lack of available, objective tools for the assessment of dysarthric disorders in the course of MS. So far, in Poland, dysarthric disorders have most often been assessed on the basis of patient's interview and by using scales, e.g.…”