Communication is a bridge that we build every day to connect with others. When Parkinson's disease enters a person's life, this bridge may seem more fragile, more difficult to cross. The muscles we use to speak, articulate, and voice are also affected by the changes that the disease imposes on the body. Speech, once fluid and spontaneous, can become a source of frustration and isolation.
In our eyes, every person has the right to make their voice heard and to maintain that precious connection with their loved ones. That is why we develop tools and share knowledge to help strengthen this bridge. This article aims to inform you about speech disorders related to Parkinson's disease and, above all, to present concrete techniques and tools, including our applications, to support those affected and their loved ones towards better communication.
Why is speech affected ?
Parkinson's disease is characterized by a decrease in dopamine production, a neurotransmitter crucial for movement control. This deficiency causes the well-known motor symptoms: slowness (bradykinesia), rigidity, and tremors.
However, speech is one of the most complex motor acts we perform. It mobilizes, in a perfectly coordinated manner, more than a hundred muscles: those of the diaphragm for breathing, the vocal cords for sound, the tongue, lips, and cheeks for articulation.
When these muscles become stiffer and less responsive, the entire mechanism gets stuck. Breathing is less powerful, the voice loses volume, and words are less clearly articulated. The medical term to describe this set of symptoms is hypokinetic dysarthria, where “ hypo ” means “ less ” and “ kinetic ” refers to movement.
Common manifestations: the fading voice
Hypokinetic dysarthria can manifest in several ways, which vary from person to person. Recognizing these signs is the first step to take action.
- Weak voice (hypophonia): the person speaks with a very low volume, as if whispering, and struggles to be heard, especially in a noisy environment. Often, they are not aware that they are speaking so softly.
- Monotone speech: the “ melody ” of sentences disappears. The intonation becomes flat, without variations in tone to express emotions or mark the difference between a question and a statement.
- Imprecise articulation: some consonants are “ swallowed ”, syllables overlap, giving the impression that the person is mumbling. Words become blurry and difficult to understand.
- Disrupted speech rhythm: the pace can be very slow, with hesitations, or conversely speed up uncontrollably (festination), as if the words are rushing to come out.
- Hoarse or trembling voice: the quality of the voice changes, becoming more breathy, hoarse, or unstable.
These difficulties can make conversation tiring, both for the person speaking and for the listener, and can sometimes lead to withdrawal.
Strategies and techniques to improve daily communication
Fortunately, there are many strategies to counter these effects and regain control of one's speech. The key is regular work, which combines the support of a professional, daily exercises, and adaptations to the environment.
The central role of the speech therapist
The speech therapist (or logopedist in Belgium and Switzerland) is an essential ally. A specialist in communication and swallowing disorders, he or she conducts a comprehensive assessment and sets up a personalized rehabilitation program.
Among the most recognized methods is LSVT LOUD (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment). Its principle is simple but powerful: “ think loud to speak loud ”. The goal is to retrain the brain to produce a louder and clearer voice by focusing on vocal intensity. Through intensive exercises, the person relearns to calibrate their voice so that it is perceived as a normal volume by others.
Exercises to practice at home
Rehabilitation does not stop at the door of the office. Like a sport, daily training is fundamental to maintain progress. Here are some types of exercises (to be validated with the speech therapist) to integrate into the routine:
- Breathing exercises: practice abdominal breathing, sitting or lying down, by inhaling deeply through the nose and then exhaling slowly through the mouth.
- Vocal exercises: hold a vowel (“ aaaah ”) for as long and as loudly as possible, do scales going up and down in high and low pitches.
- Articulation exercises: exaggerate lip and tongue movements while pronouncing series of syllables (“ pa-ta-ka ”, “ la-la-la ”), read a text aloud articulating each word very distinctly.
Adapting the environment and habits
Small changes in daily life can facilitate communication:
- Reduce background noise: turn off the television or radio before discussing.
- Face the interlocutor: eye contact helps with understanding and lip reading.
- Take your time: think about what you want to say, pause between sentences to catch your breath.
- Announce the topic: start with a simple sentence that introduces the theme of the conversation to help the other person follow.
The support of technology: EDITH, JOE, and The Rolling Ball
Today, technology offers innovative solutions to complement the work done with the speech therapist. At Dynseo, we have developed applications designed as fun and effective training companions. They do not replace the therapist but allow for continued rehabilitation at home, in a self-directed and motivating way.
EDITH & JOE: adapted and stimulating brain training
Speech depends not only on muscles but also on cognitive abilities: attention, memory, planning… Parkinson's disease can also alter these functions.
Our brain training program EDITH & JOE, designed with health professionals, offers adapted cognitive games that specifically stimulate executive functions. By working on concentration, speed of information processing, or mental flexibility, the person strengthens the cognitive foundations necessary for smoother communication.
The application acts as a true personal coach, available at any time for a training session.
The Rolling Ball: working on fine motor skills
Parkinson's disease leads to a global impairment of the motor system. While EDITH and JOE target the brain, the application The Rolling Ball focuses more specifically on the fine motor skills of the hand and wrist.
By working on the precision and coordination of movements on a tablet with a stylus, we stimulate overall motor skills. This dexterity training can contribute to better overall motor control, beneficial for all activities, including speech.
When speaking becomes too difficult, written communication can become an essential alternative means. Micrographia (writing becoming smaller and illegible) is common in Parkinson's disease. Practicing with The Rolling Ball helps combat this phenomenon by working on the amplitude and fluidity of the writing gesture, in order to preserve a valuable communication channel and autonomy.
The importance of the communication partner
Communication is a dance for two. The person living with Parkinson's disease makes considerable efforts to express themselves, but the quality of the exchange also heavily depends on the attitude of their interlocutor. Close ones, family, and caregivers play a key role.
Tips for loved ones and caregivers
Being a good communication partner means first showing patience and empathy:
- Be patient: let the person finish their sentences, do not speak for them even if you guess what comes next.
- Listen actively: maintain eye contact, nod, show that you are following.
- Kindly ask them to repeat: “ I didn’t quite understand the end of your sentence, can you repeat it ?” rather than a blunt “ What ?”
- Rephrase: repeat in your own words what you understood to validate the message and avoid misunderstandings.
- Ask closed questions: favor “ yes/no ” answers when the conversation becomes difficult.
- Take fatigue into account: choose moments when the person is feeling their best to discuss important topics.
Maintaining dialogue and social connection
The greatest risk of speech disorders is isolation. The fear of not being understood or slowing down the conversation can lead some people to remain silent and avoid social interactions.
It is essential to combat this tendency: continue to include the person in conversations, seek their opinion, organize friendly moments. Non-verbal communication – a smile, a gesture, a hand on the shoulder – is just as important to maintain the connection.
Towards a global and positive approach
Living with speech difficulties related to Parkinson's disease is not a fatality. It is a path that requires commitment, but on which no one should feel alone.
Unity is strength: patient, speech therapist, and technology
Success relies on an alliance between three pillars:
- The involvement of the person: motivation, regular practice of exercises.
- The expertise of the speech therapist: precise diagnosis, adapted goals, guided rehabilitation.
- The support of technology: applications like EDITH, JOE, and The Rolling Ball, which extend therapeutic work through accessible, motivating, and personalized training.
Our tools are not magic wands, but companions designed to restore power over daily life, help work on abilities, and strengthen collaboration with the care team.
Living fully with Parkinson's disease
Communication is like a muscle. With Parkinson's disease, this muscle can weaken, but with appropriate training, the right strategies, and support from those around, it is possible to strengthen it and keep it active.
There will be easier days than others, fluid conversations, and moments of frustration. The essential thing is not to give up, to celebrate every small victory, and to remember that every word spoken, every sentence shared, is a victory over the disease and a solid bridge to those we love.
At Dynseo, we are by your side to help you build and maintain these bridges, day after day.
To go further
As part of these neurological disorders that impact communication, a complementary article may also interest you: managing the behaviors of patients with Alzheimer's disease. This article, available on the Dynseo website, presents strategies to cope with the behavioral disorders associated with this disease.
To deepen the support for people living with Parkinson's, you can consult our dedicated guide :
