Parkinson’s Disease and Speech Therapy

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that disrupts the nerve cells in the brain responsible for dopamine production, affecting movement. Symptoms develop gradually; minor hand tremors are a common early sign, with patients eventually experiencing an increase in tremors, stiffness in the joints, muscle rigidity, slow movement, gait and balance problems, changes in speech and writing ability, and swallowing difficulty. There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but treatment can help reduce symptoms and improve the patient’s overall quality of life.

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) is trained to assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, cognitive, and communication disorders. The SLP can help people with Parkinson’s disease maintain their ability to communicate effectively and improve speaking skills. Common speech impairments associated with the disorder include an inability to pronounce words correctly, hoarseness, strained voice, and slurred speech.

These symptoms are the result of weakened muscles in the larynx, tongue, mouth, lips, and throat. Speech therapy focuses on the following areas:

• Improving voice quality, loudness, articulation, inflection, and speech intelligibility.
• Teaching nonverbal communication skills. This includes utilization of residual speech, expressions, and gestures.
• Improving communication techniques to assist with daily activities.

The SLP will recommend specific exercises to help Parkinson’s patients improve vocal function. These may include:

• Repetition to improve muscle control.
• Vocal stretches.
• Proper breathing techniques.
• Vocal function techniques.
• Singing therapy.

Additionally, there are techniques patients can try at home in order to improve and enhance communication, such as:

• Choosing a quiet environment.
• Speaking slowly and articulately.
• Communicating face-to-face with other individuals.
• Relying on short phrases.
• Maintaining a comfortable posture.
• Resting your voice prior to communication.
• Writing down what you say if the other person has trouble understanding.
• Discussing the conversation topic in advance.
• Spelling out words to enhance understanding.

There are a number of tools and devices that can help Parkinson’s patients communicate, as well. Palatal lifts are retainer-like dental tools that lift the soft palate, preventing air from escaping from the nose during speech. Personal amplifiers can increase volume, and TTY telephone relay systems utilize a keyboard-equipped telephone and rely on a relay operator to read the conversation out loud.

If you or a loved one is experiencing Parkinson’s disease that has impacted communication and speech abilities, contact your local SLP today for help.