Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is considered a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects about one million people in the U.S. and 10 million people worldwide. It is considered a movement disorder that can cause tremors, slowing and stiffening movements, however, symptoms may be diverse and slowly develop over time.
The same symptoms that occur in muscles of the body, can also occur in muscles used when speaking and swallowing. Most people will experience changes in speech, voice, and swallowing at some point during the disease. Additionally, changes in language and cognition may also affect communication. Like other symptoms of PD, symptoms for speech, language, cognition, and swallowing will vary from one person to another.
Here at NNST, I had the opportunity to become a SPEAK OUT!® provider. This program, developed by Parkinson Voice Project, was created to help individuals with Parkinson’s and other related neurological diagnoses REGAIN and RETAIN their speech and swallowing skills. It is an evidence-based program where patients can learn to convert speech from an AUTOMATIC function to an INTENTIONAL act.
Some questions to ask to determine if you or a loved one would benefit from a SPEAK OUT!® evaluation include:
Do you or a loved one have Parkinson’s Disease (PD)?
Have there been any changes in voice and communication?
Is speech soft, mumbled, quiet, or monotone?
Is the person with PD frequently being asked to repeat and speak louder?
As an SLP specializing in neurogenic disorders such as PD, I’ve witnessed firsthand the impact our profession can have in enhancing the quality of life for those living with PD, or any progressive diagnosis. We can complete a comprehensive evaluation to assess where impairments may exist for our personalized treatment plan, followed by therapy aiming to maintain function and maximize performance as the disease progresses.
Feel free to reach out to find out more and complete our consultation to see if you are a good candidate! Let’s navigate this journey together!