Kate has always been able to talk to her dad about exciting things in her life. His over-the-top personality means he's always bursting at the seams with excitement about her success. When Kate is finally promoted at work, she rushes to her parent's place to tell her 78-year-old father the great news. But when she spills the beans to Dad, he doesn't seem interested. He says he's proud of Kate, but his tone is just monotone. Mom says he's been sounding uninterested about everything, which is so unlike him. Kate has already been noticing the early signs of Parkinson's disease in her father and decides to bring it up with his doctor.
How Parkinson's Affects Speech
After a meeting with her father's doctor, Kate learns that chances in speech are a common symptom of Parkinson's. Hypophonia, or soft speech, can occur as a result of weakened muscles involved in speech. Another reason for soft or low speech is a chance in sensory processing. Patients with Parkinson's may no longer be aware of their speech patterns and not notice when they don't speak as loudly as they once did. To them, they may sound completely normal.
Ways to Mitigate a Soft or Low Voice
Kate is ready to do anything she can to help Dad with his Parkinson's speech problems. However, she knows that this is a symptom she can't mitigate on her own. Upon the doctor's advice, she considers the following approaches for helping Dad:
-
Speech Therapy: Speech therapy can greatly benefit those speaking with a soft or monotone voice. Specialists can offer insight into the best methods for improving voice.
-
Group Classes: Some people prefer a group setting over home practice. Kate plans to ask Dad whether he would prefer to work on speech with other people going through the same thing.
-
Speech Aid Devices: Kate and her mom will be looking into speech aid devices and technology designed to help those with Parkinson's communicate.
-
Psychotherapy: Kate learns that, in many cases, a soft voice stems from psychological issues as well. She's going to talk to Dad about getting him a therapist or mental health counselor to connect with.
Let BrightStar Care Help Manage Symptoms
Kate often feels overwhelmed by her dad's Parkinson's symptoms and knows that asking for help is sometimes necessary. She turns to Naperville, IL's branch of BrightStar Care when she needs assistance. Our in-home care services are designed to accommodate seniors with a range of conditions, including Parkinson's. Contact us for details about our services.