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