- Consecutive sampling (total enumerative sampling) strategy will be employed in order to avoid bias in regard to the disease onset: all newly diagnosed patients at ALS Centre Moscow meeting the inclusion criteria will be invited to participate, until the desired sample size (n=8) is achieved. All patients will start the trial simultaneously.
- Diagnosis of probable or definite ALS by the revised El Escorial criteria confirmed by neurologist at ALS Moscow Centre prior to screening for enrollment.
- ALSFRS-R bulbar subscore ≥ 9, but ≤ 11, where bulbar score=the sum of ALSFRS-R questions 1–3 (maximum score of 12)
- Forced vital capacity (FVC) greater than 60%
- Unimpaired cognition as evidenced by ECAS cut-off scores adjusted for age and education
- No tracheostomy or mechanical ventilation
- No diaphragmatic pacer
- No significant concurrent respiratory disease
- Not receiving any other experimental treatment for dysarthria, dysphagia, dystussia and dyspnoea for the duration of the study
- Not receiving any other music therapy treatment for the duration of the study
- Able to consent to treatment
- Native speakers of Russian
ALS Music Therapy 