PhD defence Francisco Javier Contreras Ruston

Keywords: Parkinson’s Disease,Voice, Awareness, Feedback

"Self-Voice Awareness and Sensory Feedback in Parkinson’s Disease, Investigating the missing link between voice changes, self-awareness, and sensory feedback in Parkinson’s disease"

This thesis explores why many people with Parkinson’s disease may not clearly notice changes in their own voice, even when those changes are obvious to others. It focuses on two main questions: how people perceive their own voice and how the brain uses sound information while speaking. The findings show that people with Parkinson’s disease are often less aware of their voice difficulties than other groups, and that this cannot be explained by age alone. The thesis also suggests that the issue is not only about producing the voice, but also about how people hear, interpret, and judge their own speech. This matters because it can affect everyday communication, whether someone seeks help, and how well they respond to therapy. Overall, the research suggests that voice treatment in Parkinson’s disease should address not only speaking itself, but also how people listen to and understand their own voice.

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