Is Parkinson's impacting your ability to speak and swallow? Parkinson's disease can influence your speech, voice, and swallowing. This condition is a degenerative neurological disorder that affects the nervous system, leading to the depletion of dopamine-producing cells and alterations in your voice, speech, and swallowing functions. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter crucial for daily tasks such as walking and talking, is also essential for digestion and regulating blood pressure.
Parkinson's can affect your speech and swallowing - all aspects of communication. It can also impact your language, thinking and non-verbal skills such as facial expressions, typing or writing. Every person with Parkinson’s may have different symptoms.
Do you experience changes in your speech and ability to swallow due to Parkinson's disease? Parkinson's can impact your ability to communicate as the reduced dopamine levels lead to abnormal brain function, resulting in impaired movements throughout the body, particularly in the mouth and neck regions. This can lead to tremors and difficulties in muscle coordination, affecting movements in the mouth and neck. Approximately 90% of individuals with Parkinson’s disease are susceptible to developing a weak voice, as well as encountering challenges with swallowing and speech.
Parkinson’s disease - Your Speech
· If you have Parkinson’s, you may make smaller, stiffer, or slower movements which impacts producing clear speech. Imprecise speech, not articulating your sounds/words clearly.
· You may take in smaller breaths and make smaller movements increasing breathiness and impacting clear speech.
· Unclear or mumbled speech due to the tongue and lip muscles moving too slowly.
· Altered speaking rate – long pauses between words or accelerated or rushes of speech.
· Stiff facial muscles, which can make it harder for people to express their emotions.
· Your speech may sound monotonous or flat.
Parkinson’s Disease - Your Swallowing
Parkinson’s can also affect the way you swallow food, drink, or saliva. Changes usually happen gradually and are often not immediately obvious. Some people may not even know they are experiencing symptoms.
· Increased saliva or drooling.
· Less control of chewing or swallowing food.
· Frequent throat clearing or sensation of saliva build-up.
Parkinson’s Disease - Your Voice
Voice changes can cause reduced voice volume, monotone quality, and breathiness.
Common voice signs and symptoms:
· Less volume and a weaker voice.
· Hoarseness or raspiness.
· Monotone with less intonation.
Cognitive and other Bodily changes
· In Parkinson’s disease your thinking and language can change. These can range from minor to significant severity and may include difficulty with attention, planning, finding the right word (memory recall) or in understanding complex language.
· Micrographia: Your handwriting becomes smaller, cramped and less legible.
· Reduced body language when communicating with others.
· You may not be aware of the changes occurring which can be a problem for those with Parkinson’s due to the low dopamine self-awareness and motivation can be impacted.
Strategies to improve Communication
· Ensure you face the person with whom you are interacting. Communication is easier when we can see (lip read, see facial expression, and body language) as well as hear.
· Reducing background noise helps. Background noise can make it harder to hear someone with Parkinson’s.
· Complete one task at a time. Multitasking or distracting can be hard for people with Parkinson’s.
· Allow time for the person with Parkinson’s to respond to questions and queries. Understanding and patience are essential.