Threatening to Withhold Without Protesting Loudly
Revved-Up Vocal Muscles: A Game Changer for Parkinson's Patients
Communicating effectively is no small feat, especially for those battling Parkinson's disease. But don't sweat it, because we've got some ingenious remedies up our sleeve to help!
Parkinson's disease takes a toll on your ability to communicate, pumping the brakes on volume, tone, rhythm, and speed of speech. Instead of projecting their thoughts as they once did, folks with Parkinson's often whisper softly and put less emotion into their words. Research reveals their voices can be up to 10 decibels lower than usual.
Words might start slurring (dysarthria), or become mumbled, with sentences trailing off at the ends. Some folks might speak with a breathy or hoarse tone, and others may speak so slowly that it's like they hit a speed bump on every word. Rapid speech might lead to stammering or stuttering in a pattern known as tachyphemia.
And it's not just the sound of their voice that's impacted; finding the right words can become a challenge as well. This makes participating in noisy or fast-paced conversations a real struggle.
Communication troubles don't only make conversations difficult, they can lead to social isolation, limit engagement in enjoyable activities, and affect work performance. Not cool.
The good news is, you can put up a fight against these vocal struggles. Regular exercise for your vocal muscles can help keep them strong and minimize the impact of Parkinson's on your ability to communicate.
A Killer Lineup of Voice-Boosting Programs
Wondering where to start? Look no further! Here's a lineup of top-notch programs that can supercharge your voice and speech:
- LSVT Loud (Lee Silverman Voice Therapy)
- Parkinson's Voice Project
- SPEAK OUT
- Voice Aerobics
- Voice Choral Singing Therapy
These programs pack a powerful punch, helping you boost your voice quality and volume, improve articulation, and refine your vocal tones. Plus, you'll ace being understood.
What's more, these programs can also help tackle swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), which are a common side effect of Parkinson's. Yup, they'll help you dodge issues like coughing, choking, or throat clearing during or after meals, as well as the sensation that food is stuck while swallowing.
So, No More Silence!
Got Parkinson's? Don't let it steal your ability to speak. Start your vocal exercise routine today!
Need some guidance? Reach out to Parkinson's NSW InfoLine at 1800 644 189. Our expert Parkinson's nurses are there to help answer all your questions! Don't let Parkinson's keep you from expressing yourself!
- In the fight against Parkinson's disease-induced communication challenges, regular exercise of vocal muscles is crucial to maintain strong voice capabilities and minimize the effects on speech.
- Mental health is also a significant concern for Parkinson's patients, as social isolation can stem from communication difficulties, further limiting engagement in health-and-wellness activities and impacting work performance.
- To boost voice quality and volume, articulation, and vocal tones, Parkinson's patients can turn to therapeutic programs such as LSVT Loud, Parkinson's Voice Project, SPEAK OUT, Voice Aerobics, and Voice Choral Singing Therapy.
- These programs not only address vocal issues but can also help manage dysphagia, a common Parkinson's-related condition, by addressing swallowing difficulties that may lead to coughing, choking, or throat clearing during meals.
