Most people with Parkinson’s experience speech difficulties at some point
and these can impair communication and therefore impact on quality of
life. Medical and surgical treatments
can alleviate such problems but it is increasingly recognised that combining medical
interventions with a range of speaking and singing therapies can significantly
improve speech.
Several Parkinson’s specific voice training techniques have been developed, usually
with the primary goal of increasing volume.
Different programmes also focus on different aspects such as breathing
exercises, use of shorter sentences and exercises to maintain or improve the
muscles involved in speech.
