Parkinson’s Disease

Voice and Speech

Communicating Well with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by movement-related symptoms such as tremor, muscle rigidity, stiffness, slowness of movement and impaired balance. Given that speech and voice rely on movement, they can also be affected.

You may experience a quiet voice, an inability to control how fast you talk or slurred speech. You may speak in a monotone voice. You may have a reduced ability to change your facial expression or use gesture. Parkinson’s disease can reduce your ability to be understood.

Speech and voice challenges happen during ‘on/off’ periods of medication use. Be aware of how your medication periods affect your speech and voice and choose a time when your meds are working to have important conversations.

1. What can be done to improve your voice and clarity of speech?

• When you are speaking, THINK LOUD. You can speak louder than you think you can. Use THINK LOUD as a mental reminder to speak as loudly as you can.
• Speak clearly by saying one word at a time followed by a small pause. Use short sentences.  (For example, “Let’s–go–to–the–store”)
• Break long words into parts. (For example, “Ex—am—in—a—tion”)
• Establish the main idea of your message. Make sure your listener understands the topic before continuing. (For example, “I want to talk about the holidays”)

2. What can be done to make communication as easy and effortless as possible?

• When possible, reduce noise while in conversation (turn off TV and radio at home and in car).
• When in conversation, move away from sources of the noise (noisy conversations at a party or in the coffee shop).
• Have face-to-face conversation in good lighting.
• If your communication partner is too far away, move closer. Don’t try to talk to each other from different rooms or upstairs to downstairs.
• Make sure your communication partners hear you. If there is the possibility of hearing loss (even mild), have your communication partners get a hearing test and treatment if needed.

3. How can I continue to be involved when communicating is getting harder?

It is important to know that continuing to try to communicate well is half the battle. Some people with Parkinson’s disease report more difficulty staying engaged in activities of daily life because they can’t communicate like they used to.

• Make a commitment to continue to be engaged in communication. Make sure you ask your question or make a comment when you have one.
• Talk with your friends and family about your communication challenges and enlist them as your communication supporters.
• Consider new ways of maintaining your independence in daily situations (such as using a written card or assistive communication device to place your order for a coffee).
• Consider contacting a Speech-Language Pathologist for an assessment of your speech and your voice quality. Your Speech-Language Pathologist can create a treatment program to improve or maintain your current functioning. With practice and support, you may find yourself returning to activities that once seemed out of reach and even exploring new ones.

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