Restoring Communication for Parkinson’s Patients: Voice Challenges, Approaches, and Hope

Описание: “Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”

Welcome to another episode of The Caring Neurologist. Today, we're diving deep into an often overlooked but profoundly personal aspect of Parkinson's disease: changes in voice, speech, and communication. If you've ever felt your voice fading or been told it's harder to hear you, you're not alone, these are common experiences for those living with Parkinson's.

Join host and neurologist Dr. Sandeep Thakkar as they break down why and how Parkinson's can affect your ability to speak, exploring the underlying neurological changes, the impact on muscle control, and the emotional effects of these shifts. You'll learn about the science behind speech changes, the importance of early intervention and therapy, and practical strategies, from reading out loud to innovative technology, that can help maintain your voice and strengthen communication with loved ones.

This episode is packed with compassionate advice for both patients and caregivers, aiming to empower everyone touched by Parkinson's to speak up, stay connected, and keep their stories heard.


Timestamps

00:00 Parkinson’s Speech Challenges Explained
03:34 Speech Changes in Parkinson's
09:05 Early Speech Therapy Importance
12:48 Parkinson's Speech Therapy Insights
16:02 "Improving Speech Through Practice"
18:25 "Managing Postnasal Drip Issues"
21:30 Voice Amplifiers for Speech Support
26:54 "Navigating Social Outings with Illness"
28:01 "Addressing Voice Issues in Parkinson's"

Quotes, Hooks, and Timestamps

"So the muscles themselves get slower and rigid as time goes on with the disease state. And just as we see the legs get stiff and slow, so do the muscles of the diaphragm, the larynx, or the voice box, and in the facial muscles. So that will inherently physically make it harder to get the words loud enough and it won't be as clear."
— Dr. Sandeep Takar [00:02:10 → 00:02:29]

"Yeah, as I commented earlier, speech changes are definitely gradual and that's what makes it hard for a person to know that something's going on and getting worse over time."
— Dr. Sandeep Takar [00:03:46 → 00:03:49]

"When a person is constantly asked to repeat themselves or is talked over in groups, then we become more quiet or withdrawn."
— Dr. Sandeep Takar [00:06:57 → 00:07:05]

"Patients need to be aware of the importance of intent with speech, and it also makes it easier to learn earlier in the disease state when the cognition is its strongest, right?"
— Dr. Sandeep Takar [00:09:27 → 00:09:38]

"LSVT really focuses on one single goal: voice volume. And so by focusing on being loud, the other speech elements like articulation, facial expression, you know, intonation, they all tend to improve automatically."
— Dr. Sandeep Takar [00:11:22 → 00:11:39]

"Yeah, one of the things that me and my staff, we really focus on is reading out loud. Like a lot of us read and we read in our heads, right? But that's not gonna help your speech and your vocal cords. So you really wanna read out loud and read out loud daily or numerous times per day. You wanna strengthen your muscles in the morning, strengthen your muscles during the midday, and even when your body's a little bit more fatigued, to really focus on enunciation and cognitive processing in the evening and night. So volume drills are really important. Speak against like an ambient noise, incorporate some voice therapy with exercise. So a lot of our patients are going to a gym and they're doing pushups or they're doing light weights. You may be, you know, counting 1, 2, and you're doing it with really big intent and you're not trying to rush through your physical exercise nor your speech."
— Dr. Sandeep Takar [00:16:02 → 00:16:50]

"And it's also very important, like, to follow up with the speech therapist's recommendations because they're valuable. And a lot of patients may hear certain things, but they may not write down all the home exercises that should be done. And so I want the caregivers to be involved."
— Dr. Sandeep Takar [00:26:03 → 00:26:21]

"So you don't wanna miss out on the enjoyment, but I say plan ahead even as a caregiver or as a patient, be mindful that maybe pick a restaurant that isn't typically so loud or get a corner area or a booth that maybe it's not as distracting or maybe there's TVs with a game on. You don't wanna be at a place where you can't really be heard."
— Dr. Sandeep Takar [00:27:17 → 00:27:37]

The Caring Neurologist - Podcast Website - https://thecaringneurologist.com/

Dr. Sandeep Thakkar - LinkedIn -   / sandeep-thakkar-do-798a2499  

Dr. Sandeep Thakkar - Clinic - https://ocparkinsons.com/about-mdpds/...

TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/