Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of many neurological diagnoses that speech therapists treat. Parkinson’s disease is defined as a progressive disease of the nervous system marked by tremor, muscular rigidity, and slow, imprecise movement. It is associated with degeneration of the basal ganglia of the brain and a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine. There are a number of symptoms associated with PD that a speech therapist would treat:
Dysarthria – Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder that impacts the clarity of speech. The characteristics of speech associated with Parkinson’s disease are collectively referred to as hypokinetic dysarthria, and include reduced loudness, imprecise articulation leading to mumbled or slurred sounding speech, breathiness, and speech that may come out in short rushes. A speech therapist works with patients with PD to improve vocal loudness and the clarity of their speech, in order to improve functional communication for daily needs. There are a number of evidenced-based treatments available to treat dysarthria in PD.
Masked facial expression – The rigidity of movement commonly seen with PD includes that of facial muscles, which can lead to a masked facial expression. A speech therapist can do exercises with a person with PD to increase the amplitude of their facial movements and add expression back into their face while communicating.
Dysphagia – Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing. Some patients with PD experience dysphagia due to the slow and rigid muscle movements in the face and throat. Speech therapists provide exercises to improve facial movement, as well as recommend diet modifications and safety strategies as needed.
Cognition – Changes with cognition can sometimes be seen as a result of Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD) or Parkinson’s Disease Mild Cognitive Impairment (PD-MCI). Screening of cognitive function should be completed regularly to monitor function, and compensatory strategies can be taught as needed.
Participating in therapy (speech, physical and occupational) is crucial to managing the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and maintaining quality of life. There are a number of resources available for more information:
American Parkinson Disease Association
Katherine and I each have ten years of experience working with patients with Parkinson’s disease – if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.