June 26, 2024
| Welcome to The Climb, your weekly journey with Lifecycle Sherpa, where we explore Parkinson’s Disease, its symptoms, treatments, tips, techniques, and build a supportive and knowledgeable community. This week’s trail leads us to…Slurred, Quiet and Mumbling Speech (Dysarthria) Question: What is it? Why does it happen? What can I do to manage it? Answer: You may notice your voice becoming more quiet, or that you have to annunciate your words better, or even that talking requires much more effort to make normal sounds, or volume. You may also not notice any changes, but those around you start asking you to speak up, or, “Say it again”. These issues are common, begin mildly, and progress over time. Dysarthria occurs as a result of rigidity (stiffness) and slowness (bradykinesia) of the muscles in the face, mouth, tongue, throat and lungs as a result of degeneration of the brain. Tip: Practice speaking loudly, slowly and clearly, over accentuating your lips and loudness in a mirror daily. Expert Tip: I highly recommend a referral to a Speech Therapist, specifically one who certified in the LSVT LOUD Therapy Program, or something similar. We always encourage feedback, as it helps us enhance our community. Feel free to reach out regarding future topics you want to learn about, or how we can improve your experience. See you next week! |