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Dear John: I am a speech pathologist and I read your article re: speech and swallowing impairments in PD. Yes, your yawning approach can help patients with PD to produce a louder voice. A large problem with the individuals with PD has to do with their breath support and it is great that you are able to help them in that area. HOWEVER, I can not see a correlation between your yawning technique and dysphagia(swallowing impairments). Dysphagia is a very serious problem. It may result in pnuemonia and eventually death. I would hope that you are referring those individuals that have swallowing impairments to a doctor who will then consult a Speech Pathologist. Judy Annesley [log in to unmask]