Weak voice with Parkinson's

[Condor13]

Parkinson's. Anyone have any experience with treatment of voice problems?

[Bolt_Upright]

Not experience, but heard of this: Speaking with intent: Parkinson’s patients regain voice quality with help of speech and hearing clinic news.illinoisstate.edu/2019...

facebook.com/watch/?v=36781...

[Condor13 in reply to Bolt_Upright]

Thanks ,Bolt_uppright/ I will look into the reference.

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Condor13]

If you ever join the Zoom call, you can thank Von. Von speaks with intent!

[ruff1 in reply to Bolt_Upright]

LVST loud program run by speech therapy here in Leicestershire, very intensive program 4x a week over 4 weeks . Info on internet and I still have all my husbands paperwork, if you are interested message me your email address and I’ll copy it 😀

[rmmm in reply to ruff1]

I too would be very interested in the paperwork to help improve voice/speech. Please email to: [e-mail] Thank you so much!

[ruff1 in reply to rmmm]

Yes of course I’ll send it tomorrow

[maugonnet4213 in reply to ruff1]

Hi ruff1, I'd be so grateful if you could email me the voice info. I've been having frustrating voice problems. I'm [e-mail] so much!

[johntPM]

I experience this about 5% of the time. It is worse when I'm "off"; partially improved when I'm "on". Levodopa improves it a bit.

Talking generally, I medicate to a level at which my upper body mobility is maximised. I have a whole collection of other symptoms (e.g. weak voice, constipation, seborrhea) which don't seem to respond as well to levodopa.

[Condor13 in reply to johntPM]

Thanks, JohnPM, I have much the same. I keep the seborrhea under control with Head and Shoulders Shampoo, the kind with Selenium.

[Smittybear7]

About three months ago whenever I would go to the store people working in the store would ask me to speak up. My physical therapist also notice that I was speaking very Softly and said I might want to consider voice therapy. Since then I try to really speak a lot louder and so far it's worked for me

[Condor13 in reply to Smittybear7]

Thanks. I have speech therapy too , and yes, speaking very loud and slowly works. It does not sound very natural. Like everyone else, I was hoping for some magic.

[Smittybear7 in reply to Condor13]

Me too Good luck!

[Physio70]

I had an almost miraculous improvement doing the LSVT LOUD programme in Melbourne. As time goes by, one becomes accustomed to "shouting". For a long time I read the NYTimes and Australian Finacial Review for two hours nearly every morning! I have a very well informed dog. Ive reduced the time but read aloud as often as I can

[Lyricist]

Yes i did an LSVT LOUD therapy course in the UK. Very Good. I still have the weak voice but now know how to project it in what seems to me to be shouting but isn’t to the listener. Practice includes Shakespeare soliloquies (in private!) just to remind myself. It’s an effort but worth it.

[qazwsx11]

I went to speech therapy and they gave me good tips and exercises. It’s about lung capacity, pronunciation, awareness.

[Condor13 in reply to qazwsx11]

Thanks, that is useful. It sound as if I am angry when I shout, but. People understand me.

[qazwsx11 in reply to Condor13]

Same here. My coworkers either complained that I mumbled or that I am screaming. Took some education and practice on my part.

[Despe in reply to qazwsx11]

"It’s about lung capacity, pronunciation, awareness."

EXACTLY, lung capacity, thus the balloon blowing exercises for my husband that his new speech therapist wants him to do.

[Boscoejean]

this video has some exercises: youtube.com/watch?v=Dy2l7qL...(Not working as expected?)

[Dap1948]

Singing is one of the easiest ways to improve your speaking voice and swallowing action. This trick and many others are explained in my book “Music as medicine particularly in Parkinson’s” amazon.co.uk/Music-As-Medic...

[Sid44elosam]

Agree. Singing is a pleasant and efficient way to deal with this issue. Improvements are quite quick as well!

[104L]

ParkinsonVoiceProject is all about learning to speak with intent. There are daily updated 30 minute lessons you can find on their web site. My wife is PWP 74 and loves it.

[JohnPepper]

Hi. Pd affects the subconscious brain. We have to concentrate on many dofferent activities, including speach. If you do this quick test you will see what I mean:

Shout as loud as you can, "FIRE!". How loud was it? So you see that your voice is working normally and all you have to do is to consciously shout softer!

The same goes for walking and bringing food to your mouth and many other activities. If you would like to learn a lot more about this then contact me.

[Seamus6 in reply to JohnPepper]

Maybe use a different word though 😂

[JohnPepper in reply to Seamus6]

Yes! It would cause havoc if others heard you shouting 'Fire', I use that word in my talks because it gives the feeling of urgency to the patient!

[Bolt_Upright in reply to JohnPepper]

Maybe "Score!" (like at the World Cup)

[JohnPepper in reply to Bolt_Upright]

That would work for me!

[Kizzmil in reply to JohnPepper]

That sound very interesting & yes please tell.me more. I was diagnosed with PD last October & my speech is difficult to understand .my partner says I start off OK and then it gets quieter and faster

[JohnPepper in reply to Kizzmil]

If you give me your email address I will send you my videos and interesting artic;les, free of charge

[Kizzmil in reply to JohnPepper]

Yes thank you from [e-mail]

[Condor13 in reply to JohnPepper]

Thanks, John, for the suggestion. I would like to have followed your general advice when I was first diagnosed, five years ago, but I was unable to exercise for 3 minutes, let alone the 2 hours you recommended.

But I thank you for the effort you have put in to help others over the years.

[JohnPepper in reply to Condor13]

When I started to do the walking, I could only do it for 20 minutes, even though I had been exercising in the gym for over 20 years, Others, like you can barely walk, but when having been shown how to do it differently, can start doing it for as little as one minute and slowly build it up to one hour. You are not alone with this problem. As you get stronger you should be able to slowly reduce your medication as well. Contact me and I will show you how to do it, at no cost!

[LindaP50]

My husband did LSVT Loud and Big a f ew years ago. He's supposed to practice his speech daily. Nowadays needs to be reminded. Of late, hubby whispers. Well, I can't read lips and can't really hear whispers anymore as my hearing is changing. For him to speak above a whisper requires such concentration on his part, my heart hurts.

[Despe in reply to LindaP50]

Linda, our hearts hurt for their transformation because of PD, it's not just the voice. . .

[LindaP50 in reply to Despe]

So true.

[JohnPepper in reply to LindaP50]

Speech is just one of the many symptoms that can be reversed. The more important ones are the movement symptoms. If your husband would start doing the Fast Walking, many of his symptoms would start to get better, as well as many of his movements, particularly his walking and he can reverse many of his symptoms, if he commits himself to do what I suggest. Give me your email address and I will send you all the videos and details of what I am talking about, free of charge. None of what I suggest costs anything!

[LindaP50 in reply to JohnPepper]

Improved possibly but not reversed.

[JohnPepper in reply to LindaP50]

That is one and the same. If the symptoms have impoved they are they are going in the reverse direction to the normal, which is getting worse.

[LindaP50 in reply to JohnPepper]

ok gotcha

[Propertytyphoon]

this might be useful, talk on speech swallowing and breathing by Asst Prof Corrine Jones of Texas uniyoutube.com/watch?v=30c-DZX...(Not working as expected?)

[Kizzmil]

Yes I do since being diagnosed with PD it feels as if I don't have enough breath to carry a conversation and I get out of breath doing nothing i.f that makes sense

[Condor13 in reply to Kizzmil]

I get the shortness of breath also. It is not related to exercise, and it does not show low blood oxygen on a Pulse Oximeter. I think it is due to muscle weakness, but it is not serious. I will ask the experts when I next have a check -up.It would be interesting to know if this is common wth PD?

[MightyF16]

Many good comments above! I’ll add my experience with an online voice coaching course. I had very good results with Roger Love’s program which I completed in a few weeks last summer. It has made a big difference. I paid under $100. Just perform an Internet search for “Roger Love voice coach. “

[Angelhawk]

I just joined this program and it appears to be very effective.

Nova's Speak Out! & LOUD Crowd

Time: 2pm - 3pm EST

In partnership with the Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Speech and Language Department, SPEAK OUT! is a therapy regimen tailored to people with Parkinson’s disease to improve their speech, voicing, and in turn, their swallowing. In this program, speech is transformed from an automatic function to an intentional task. SPEAK OUT! is usually completed in 12 sessions spanning four weeks, and then the client transitions to the LOUD Crowd. In this four-week span, clients report improvement in their speaking, their ability to be heard, and their overall quality of life.

LOUD Crowd is the group therapy portion of the program. The sessions provide maintenance for skills obtained during SPEAK OUT! and are a source of camaraderie for the members.

The SPEAK OUT! & LOUD Crowd therapy regimens were developed at Parkinson Voice Project in Richardson, TX. You can visit their website parkinsonvoiceproject.org/

Nova Southeastern University in collaboration with the AdventHealth/Neuroscience Parkinson’s & Movement Outreach offers SPEAK OUT! and LOUD Crowd virtually through telehealth using the Zoom platform. SPEAK OUT! and LOUD Crowd is generally offered on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays between 2-3 PM (EST).

**Attendees are not admitted after 2:10pm**

Join Zoom Meeting

nova.zoom.us/j/92580196243

[Rather]

Speech Therapist recommended use of a EMST to strengthen muscles that help one spit flem and improve air force to speak louder. Expiatory Muscle Strenth Trainer is available at emst150.com, it may be a life changer ?

[Condor13 in reply to Rather]

Thanks, Rather, I just ordered one from Amazon, but I bought the $19 version. It ought to help. John

[gwendolinej]

My husband’s voice improved dramatically when he started taking Mannitol. It’s still good after 2 years.

Gwendoline

[Condor13 in reply to gwendolinej]

Interesting . What dose and for how long?

[gwendolinej in reply to Condor13]

He takes 1tbs. a day in iced coffee. His biggest problem was apathy, including spending all his time on the bed. The Neurologist was thinking dementia. The apathy improved first and then everything else followed.

[LindaP50 in reply to gwendolinej]

Wonderful. Didn't know one could get improvement with voice. I'll chat with hubby and discuss increasing his daily dosage. Currently doing 1tsp a day which helped with apathy and facial expressions. Can't hurt to up the dosage. The limit is 1tablespoon.

[gwendolinej in reply to LindaP50]

Yes, it’s worth a try. Do keep us informed on how it goes.

Gwendoline

[LindaP50 in reply to gwendolinej]

Will do

[Condor13]

To Rather, With a viral pneumonia, the strength of coughing is a decisive factor in survival so we should all be working on strengthening thoracic muscles.

[Condor13]

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO REPLIED TO MY QUESTION.I think we all learned something from each other. Which is what this site is all about!

[ion_ion]

HDT fixed my low voice and all the other non-motor symptoms.