Quality Evaluation Using the Mobile App Rating Scale for Speech Therapy in Parkinson Disease: Systematic Search and Evaluation

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Abstract Background As the global population ages, Parkinson disease (PD) has emerged as the second most prevalent neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer disease. People with PD often experience speech problems, including reduced volume, monotone pitch, breathiness, and word slurring. Interventions such as speech therapy through mobile apps provide reassurance and easier access to care for patients having this neurodegenerative condition. Mobile apps offer patients with PD greater access to care and the reassurance of being able to manage their condition at home. However, we do not know the quality of these apps. A systematic evaluation of these mobile apps is necessary to ensure their effectiveness and suitability for use by patients with PD. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the quality of existing free apps that support speech therapy for people with PD. Methods This study took place at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, New York. It was conducted between January 2024 and July 2025. We conducted a systematic application search to identify apps available on the Apple App Store for speech therapy targeting people with PD and then performed an evaluation using the Mobile App Rating Scale framework with 4 raters. We only included freely available apps. We calculated interrater reliability and found median and mean ratings and SD for Mobile App Rating Scale dimensions. Results From 33 candidate apps, we included 3 apps in our evaluation. Functionality scored high for all 3 apps, with ratings above 4.5. However, engagement scored the lowest in all the apps. Interrater reliability agreement varied for all sections. Voicibel had the highest agreement of 0.83 for engagement. Aesthetics had the lowest agreement in all 3 apps, with agreements at 0.33 or below. Conclusions All 3 apps offer targeted exercises and are targeted for the patient. Mobile apps hold promise for increasing the accessibility of speech therapy for patients with PD and provide promising support for managing speech difficulties in PD. Evaluating these apps is essential to determine their quality in supporting these patients. Future research with speech therapy apps should evaluate clinical efficacy through randomized controlled trials.