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Dear Joy -- I well remember Bob's beautiful and strong voice, and I'm so very moved and thrilled that he is speaking once again. That doesn't seem like a small miracle to me, it seems like a MAJOR miracle! What a good idea to place the letters in the QWERTY format; and also, laminating them so he can carry the paper around. I'll bet your SP could write this up and publish it in one of the journals. I am absolutely thrilled for you both. It's also exciting to hear of the prism glasses, please let us know how they work out. Best, Kathrynne Bob & Joy Graham wrote: > Recently we found an optometerist who really understands the problems of PD > & PSP, and his "watery" (but dry and therefore scratched) red eyes are > being treated (this will help the blepharospasm). He is soon to get a pair > of prism glasses which will correct his poor downwardl gaze and therefore > assist him with his reading, eating and keyboard work. Miracle one. > > We have been feeling like we have been on an "uphill" curve but nothing has > given us so much satisfaction and happiness as yesterday, when we visited > his speech pathologist (SP). She has been "tracking" Bob's downhill slide > with his speech ever since he was diagnosed and knows that he had a > beautiful melodious voice and used it to great effect in all that he did > (as a teacher and a leader in our state PD Association). > > Prompted by our Parkinson's Nurse Specialist, she called recently and said, > "I have something new to try out with Bob." > > So yesterday she presented Bob with a single sheet of paper on which she > had printed out the letters of the alphabet in a very large and bold font. > Then she taught him the technique (and the rules). When he wants to speak, > he has to find and point at the first letter of the word, then say the > word. He repeats the process.. placing his finger on the letter... then > saying the word. The visual cue combined with the pacing which he is forced > to do as he searches for the next letter slows him down. The trigger of > finding the first letter works (I think) by "anticipating" the whole word. > If he breaks the rules and tries to run on without finding, pointing THEN > speaking, the system soon breaks down and he is unintelligbly fast again. > If he sticks to the rules, he can say quite long sentences. Miracle two. > > Our friends who have heard him today, have been visibly "moved" to hear his > own voice coming over so loud and clear. And for the first time he left > his treasured LiteWriter at home, instead packing a piece of paper. > > As suggested by the SP, we have now produced the letters on the page in the > formation of the "qwerty" keyboard and the pace of his speech quickened or > rather "eased" considerably since he - although only a two finger typist - > is very familiar with the keyboard. (This has removed the stress of finding > the letters) > > We have run off sets of the letters in all sizes and shapes. These we will > laminate and he can carry them in pockets, or leave them about the house to > use wherever he is. One we made small enough for his wallet. We are even > thinking of getting an engraved bracelet which can be worn like a watch, or > a necklace which he can hold up in front of himself and point at. (His near > vision is good). > > Well, obviously the motto is never give up! > > Bob and I are very grateful for the many dedicated health professionals who > help us in the battle with PD. We hope this information will be useful to > others. > > Joy & Bob Graham > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn -- Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD Author: "Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease" "Constipation and Parkinson's" -- audiocassette & guidebook "Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy for Parkinson's disease" & Risk Assessment Tools "Risk for malnutrition and bone fracture in Parkinson's disease," J Nutr Elderly. V18:3;1999. http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn