Jenny Tegnevi

I am a licensed Speech and Language Therapist with extensive clinical experience in voice, speech, and swallowing disorders, with a particular focus on Parkinson’s disease (PD).

The doctoral project is a prospective clinical intervention study designed as a single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT). The aim is to evaluate the effects of expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) across different stages of Parkinson’s disease, focusing on respiratory, laryngeal, and oropharyngeal function, based on instrument-based assessments and patient-reported outcome measures.

Impaired respiratory function is common in Parkinson’s disease and may secondarily affect voice, speech, and swallowing function. As pharmacological treatment shows variable efficacy for axial symptoms, there is a need for targeted rehabilitative interventions. This project aims to address this need by investigating EMST as a potential therapeutic approach to improve function and reduce symptoms related to respiration, phonation, speech, and swallowing in individuals with Parkinson’s disease.