 | Gentry White is the owner and lead therapist for Southeast Kansas Speech Pathology Services in Pittsburg Kansas. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 1998 and her Master of Arts in Audiology and Speech Sciences degree from Michigan State University in 2001. She has been practicing Speech-Language Pathology in southeast Kansas since moving to Pittsburg in 2001. Gentry resides in the Pittsburg area with her husband and children. She can be contacted through her website www.sekspeech.com or her office phone at 620-232-2990. |
Speech Pathology
2013-02-01 08:59:57
Recommendations for someone with early onset Parkinson's
Q-I did not know that speech pathology was part of Parkinson's treatment. What are the recommendations for speech pathology for someone with early onset Parkinson's?
A-Parkinson's Disease, or PD, is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system. Early in the disease, the most obvious symptoms include diminished facial expressions, shaking, rigidity, and slowness. As the disease progresses patients may demonstrate difficulty with swallowing and speech.
Difficulties in speech are particularly noticeable early in the onset of the disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, persons with Parkinson's may lose volume (hypophonia), have reduced pitch range (monotone) and because of problems initiating purposeful movement, have difficulty forming words and may slur their speech (dysathria).
As you might imagine, difficulty in speech is one of the most frustrating aspects of the disease as it affects how you relate to others. Combined with the diminished ability to express emotions through facial expressions, individuals with PD may tend to retreat from activities they once enjoyed and be more inclined to experience depression.
While around 89% of people with PD will have some form of speech difficulty, only around 5% ever seek treatment. This is very unfortunate, as research shows that speech therapy is very effective in improving the speech, voice, and swallowing problems associated with PD.
There are many potential treatments in speech, voice, and language problems that include medication, behavioral therapies, and surgery. I would suggest that anyone having PD and experiencing speech difficulty talk to their doctor about their options, including being evaluated by a speech pathologist. A qualified professional can help provide tools in the management of the areas of deficit so that the individual can continue to enjoy effective communication and meals with family and friends.
