One common health issue associated with Parkinson’s disease is dysarthria (difficulty speaking), which is often accompanied by dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
This is because Parkinson’s affects the muscles in the mouth and throat, causing speech impediments. While different individuals with Parkinson’s experience difficulty speaking in different ways, most with the condition feel that speaking is more difficult even though their friends may not realize it.
Effects of speech disability
Speaking is a big part of our daily life, allowing us to communicate our needs and desires and to socialize and express ourselves with friends and family. When we begin to lose our ability to speak with ease, it can therefore affect our social life considerably. There are many physical conditions in addition to Parkinson’s that affect people’s ability to speak, and fortunately the field of speech pathology has come a long way in the last few decades, empowering people with speech impediments to reclaim their ability to be heard and therefore boost their independence.
Why speech is affected
One key to understanding speech therapy is to understand the muscle functions and other physical aspects that affect our speech. In the case of Parkinson’s and many other conditions, the problem is muscular and not related to intellectual disability. By focusing on gaining as much control over the muscles in the throat that control speech and strengthening those muscles as much as possible, the individual with Parkinson’s can begin to reclaim their speaking abilities to a surprisingly large extent.
If you have Parkinson’s and are having trouble communicating, we encourage you to look into the possibility of speech therapy with a qualified professional.
An example of speech therapy
For a taste of what speech therapy may be like, consider taking a look at our special DVD of speech exercises for people with Parkinson’s. Recorded by speech-language pathologist Mary Spremulli, Voice Aerobics is a fun and easy speech workout that lasts a full hour.
The DVD was originally intended as an after-therapy program for people with Parkinson’s, and it focuses on posture, breathing and improving voice volume. While individual needs may vary greatly with speech therapy, this DVD is great for anyone seeking to rekindle the strength of their voice, speak with more volume and be understood.
Technology can also help speech conditions
Along with speech exercises, there is yet another great aid for increasing communication ability: the Voice Aerobics Digital Amplification System. This pocket microphone is not like any other microphone. It is designed with high-tech digital circuitry system that maintains the natural sound of your voice without any kind of electronic buzzing or hissing sounds. It slightly amplifies the volume of your speech if you are one of the many people who have difficulty speaking up due to Parkinson’s.
Living independently means being able to express yourself, and we hope these recommendations and daily living aids will get you started on the journey to regaining your freedom.
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