PhD Study : Everyday use of Voice Assisted Technology as a Facilitator of Speech Improvement for People with Parkinson’s Disease: A Health Technology Assessment

Apply and key information  

Summary

Most people diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PwPD) develop speech problems over time, and have difficulty making themselves heard and understood, due to low volume and unclear speech, leading to frustration. The experience is not helped by limited access to Speech and Language Therapy (SLT), difficulties in attending hospital and in following recommended exercises. Our early work suggests that some PwPD who use devices such as Alexa said that they do not need to repeat themselves as often and they had clearer speech, after using the device (Duffy et al. 2021). Some therapists are beginning to use this technology with promising effects on speech.  Daily interactions, using phrases like “Alexa what time is it?” might improve speech over time, so that it is clearer and loud enough to be understood.

To develop this area of practice, we need to carry out some experiments. In each of these experiments, we will invite up to 40 PwPD to trial using Alexa to facilitate speech. Ideally, they will have speech concerns (but no memory problems), and they are not yet having SLT. We will have two groups in each study, 20 PwPD will use Alexa for six months (intervention group) and 20 PwPD will not (control group). We will visit the 40 PwPD at home several times over a six-month period, assessing their speech. One group will be given Alexa and trained at the start and asked to use Alexa at least five times a day for six months. We will observe the intervention group using Alexa and interview them and their family carer about the experience.

The goal of this research is to find out whether the frequent use of Alexa, can help PwPD who struggle with communication, arising from low volume and unclear speech.

AccessNI clearance required

Please note, the successful candidate will be required to obtain AccessNI clearance prior to registration due to the nature of the project.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

  • Masters at 65%
  • Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

  • Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
  • Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
  • Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

  • Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
  • Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
  • Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
  • Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

Recommended reading

Duffy, O., Synnott, J., McNaney, R., Zambrano, P.B. and Kernohan, W.G., 2021. Attitudes Toward the Use of Voice-Assisted Technologies Among People With Parkinson Disease: Findings From a Web-Based Survey. JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies, 8(1), p.e23006 Kulkarni, P.,

Duffy, O., Synnott, J., Kernohan, W.G., McNaney, R., 2021. Exploring Speech and Language practitioners’ use of commercially available Voice Assisted Technology: a webbased survey. JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies (submitted). doi:10.2196/29249

Miller, N., 2017. Communication changes in Parkinson’s disease. Practical Neurology, 17(4), pp.266-274.

McNaney, R., Tsekleves, E. and Synnott, J., 2020, April. Future Opportunities for IoT to Support People with Parkinson's. In Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 1-15).

Smith, E., Sumner, P., Hedge, C. and Powell, G., 2021. Smart speaker devices can improve speech intelligibility in adults with intellectual disability. International journal of language & communication disorders, 56(3), pp.583-593.

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Monday 6 February 2023
04:00PM

Interview Date
20th - 22nd March 2023

Preferred student start date
18th September 2023

Applying

Apply Online  

Contact supervisor

Dr Orla Duffy

Other supervisors