N Miller et al. Changing perceptions of self as a communicator in Parkinson's disease: a longitudinal follow-up study. Disability & Rehabilitation, August 24, 2010.

Dysarthria in neurological conditions can impact on people's view of themselves as communicators. How views might evolve and how they relate to changes in other variables remains unclear. Miller and colleagues investigated patterns of change in self-perception as a communicator in people with Parkinson's disease (PD), and compared outcomes to changes in other clinical measures. Thirty-one people with initially early-stage PD completed a 22-item self-administered semantic differential questionnaire aimed at characterizing their view of themselves as communicators before they had PD and at two assessment points 3 years apart. Patterns of change across time were analyzed, and compared to intelligibility, motor, mood, and cognitive measures. Negative changes in perceptions of self as a communicator occurred, in particular in reactions around competence, adequacy, control, and ease in communication. There was variability between individuals and between items. No significant relationship was established between changes on self-perception scores and other measures.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: The authors concluded that individuals' views of themselves as communicators evolve over time in progressive neurological conditions. Changes do not relate straightforwardly to other clinical measures. Major impact can occur despite good intelligibility levels.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE CONSUMER: Miller and associates argued that exploring self-perceptions, individual reactions, and coping strategies should be a vital part of assessment and management. This certainly should be the case in developing self-management programs for Parkinson’s disease. It is a condition that demands such programs be established.