Hi Sandor...
The PD speech problem(s) is another dehumanizing aspect of the
darn disease. Actually, it's made up of several differenent problems and a
person can have one, or the other, or ALL to contend with.
There's the vocal cords problem, when one's vocal cords become
"lazy," and are slack, instead of being tight as
they were designed to be. The 'normal" vocal cord kind of
"SNAPS" - hundreds, maybe even thousands of times while we
speak. When Parkinson's has struck one's vocal cords, that
"SNAP" disappears, and the two vocal cords flap lazily together,
permitting lots of air to c escape. NOT GOOD!
Then facial muscles can also be a problem, either alone or
simultaneously to the vocal cord problem, as can the throat, too.
As if THESE weren't enough, there's also what I
think of as the "PD garbled my brain syndrome," and it's related
syndrome, the "PD garbled the connection between my brain AND my mouth
syndrome." THESE two things tend to make folks lose patients with us
as we speak, and the next thing ya know, they're finishing sentences for us, and
then ignoring us.
So there ya have not ONE speech problem, but
FIVE, and they can be had individually, or ya might have a couple, or even
three, four, or all five together.
(starting to look a little more complex than
one's initially think, huh?)
These problems always appear to be treated by a variety of
specialists - a neck and throat specialist for the vocal cords, a speech
therapist for the facial muscles decline, etc. MAYBE... just MAYBE it's time for
the movement disorder specialists/neuros who treat us to coordinate a complete
"PD speech-aid program," working in conjunction with the
speech-related specialists we see in order to develop a STANDARD speech
improvement course of treatment for those of us who have PD?
Food for thought. I've mentioned this to
my neuro (Dr. No Nothing) <along with tons of other PD related things> and
his eyes kind of glaze over <rueful grin>.
Barb Mallut
barb_msn@email..msn.com
Dear listfriends!
I am a member of your group just for 2 weeks, but learned
much more, then I expected. I have read some very interesting diskussions.
My participaiting rather passive because of my poor english, and less
knowledge. Unfortunately in my country the neurologists have no enough
knowledge too. Sometimes I must inform them about PD news.
May I ask your opinion about speech difficulties
in PD, and treatment options? One of my first simptoms 6 years ago
( I am 45, was diagnosed 4 years ago ) was the soft voice, hard speaking in
noise, and right now I can't tell a word in unexpectable situation, or in
stress. It's difficoult for me to speek by phone, to speek on any meeting or
conference, or to read aloud.
I have on/off periods, sometimes I can manage it by
respiration, but usually not. I see a seech therapist once a week, it helps
a bit.
Let's diskuss this issue, maybe anyone know the way
getting better.
Thank you
all
Sandor
