STEPP Lab


	We are currently recruiting a variety of participants for our studies at Boston University. Participants will be reimbursed $10/hour for their involvement. Studies may involve speech, swallowing or hand and arm function. The goal of this work is to understand the correlation between non-invasive objective measures and qualitative measures of motor function. Please see the criteria below and contact Dr. Stepp at stepplab@gmail.com for more information about participation.

	Who we are looking for We are looking for volunteers between the ages of 4 and 100 years with no history of voice, speech, hearing, swallowing, or upper extremity disorder and no history of neurological disease or stroke. We are looking for adults between the ages of 18 and 100 years who have a voice disorder related to spasmodic dysphonia or to vocal hyperfunction like vocal nodules, muscle tension dysphonia, or vocal fold polyp. We are looking for adults between the ages of 18 and 100 years who have Parkinson’s Disease and are willing to be tested both ON and OFF medication. We are looking for adults between the ages of 18 and 100 years who have suffered a stroke more than 4 months ago and have subsequent problems with their swallowing but are not currently enrolled in swallowing therapy. We are looking for volunteers between the ages of 4 and 100 years who have velopharyngeal dysfunction due to mislearning or muscle weakness.

	You may be asked to: Produce speech Voluntarily contract your hand, arm, neck or facial muscles Produce dry swallows Fill out motor function and quality of life scales Listen to and rate speech samples

	The following types of data may be collected: Acoustics using a microphone Electromyography to non-invasively detect electrical signals from your muscles from the surface of the skin Body movement and force



	Research Volunteers