See also Speech & language therapy
Acknowledgement
We would like to acknowledge the use of information from the UK’s Parkinson’s Disease Society information sheets on Communication (FS6), Handwriting (FS23), Speech and Language Therapy (FS7).
Website: www.parkinsons.ie
Parkinson's disease organisation, based in Dublin, with branches throughout the country.
Parkinson's Association of Ireland
Carmichael House
North Brunswick Street
Dublin 7
Email: parkinsonsireland@eircom.net
Website:www.pdpals.com
PALS Support Group offers support to those of a younger age who have Parkinson's Disease.
PALS Support Group has formally existed since November, 1998 and is a branch of the Parkinson's Association of Ireland. It is the brainchild of its Chairman, David Magennis, who has had Parkinson's disease since he was 28.
Tel: 01 - 8510040 (PALS Support Group, Ireland)
Email: pdpals@gofree.indigo.ie
The Parkinson’s association in your country may also be able to provide information based on members’ experiences. The EPDA website [www.epda.eu.com] contains the contact details for European Parkinson's disease organisations and international Parkinson’s organisations.
Your Parkinson’s association may also advise and provide information and educational opportunities for health professionals.
Everyone with Parkinson’s Disease may have different symptoms, but, most will include stiffness and tremor. Voice and swallowing problems are frequently another symptom of this disease, sometimes occurring early, and sometimes later as the disease progresses. The Voice Aerobics™ DVD give those individuals a program that they can do on their own, at home. Developed by Mary Spremulli,MA,CCC-SLP, a local medical speech pathologist, licensed nurse, and lecturer, with over 25 years healthcare experience, Voice Aerobics™ is a three part exercise program which focuses on: breath support, posture, and vocal function exercises for improved vocal performance.
Voice Aerobics™, was started in 1999 as a 50 minute exercise class. It combines techniques from voice therapy and exercise physiology. It was designed originally as an “after therapy” program for individuals with Parkinson’s disease, however, the class attracted participants with a variety of backgrounds, including, individuals who were involved in choral work, but felt they were losing power in their voice.
Speech and voice symptoms occurring with Parkinson’s Disease are usually classified as a hypo kinetic dysarthria (hypo-slow, kinetic-referring to muscle movement, and dys-difficult, arthria-having to do with speech). The actual speech and voice of the person, is characterized as: low in volume, rate of speech which is too rushed or fast, low pitched, and monotone (boooooring!) Many people with Parkinson’s Disease complain that other people are always asking them to repeat, even though they think they’re talking just fine. Loss of facial expression is also associated with Parkinson's disease. The changes in voice and swallowing can be insidious (sneaky), and occur gradually over time. Consequently, the person who has the problem may not even realize how poor their voice has become, until their doctor is referring them for speech therapy.
10% of the DVD profits are donated to the National Parkinson's Foundation and the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment Foundation.
‘Art as therapy’ programmes aim to help open doors for people and, by sharing the creative experience, show the community the ‘can-do’ side of those with Parkinson's disease. Nancy Tingey – the founder of Painting for Parkinson’s – explains how artwork can be a useful and versatile communication tool in Parkinson's
