Speech and language therapy

About 50 percent of people with Parkinson's develop problems with their speech and communication. Many also experience swallowing difficulties, although speech, writing and swallowing problems do not always accompany each other.

What are the problems you might experience?

Voice/speech

• Soft voice or lack of volume
• Fading voice volume
• Lack of variation and expression in your voice
• Hoarse or tremulous voice
• Hesitancy or difficulty getting your voice started
• Speaking too quickly
• Slight slurring or indistinct speech.

Writing

• It starts off fine but becomes smaller and smaller
• It is "spidery" and difficult to read
• Your hand shakes too much to write.

Facially

• You appear to have lost your frown or smile
• Your face lacks expression
• When you look in the mirror it does not look like you
• Your eyes seem lost in a gaze.

Posture

Your posture is poor, for example, you may have difficulty keeping your head up.

Swallowing

• you find keeping your head up and lips closed a problem so saliva may collect in your mouth and become difficult to manage
• your teeth do not fit well
• food is left in your mouth after you have finished a meal
• you cough regularly when eating or drinking
• you choke on your food
• you take a long time over each meal
• food feels as if it is sticking in your throat

Your local speech and language therapist can help you with these symptoms.

Referral procedures vary depending on where you live, but in most areas you should be able to refer yourself for speech and language therapy through the speech and language therapy department at the local general or district hospital. Your GP surgery should also be able to advise you on community speech and language services. A medical referral may be needed for swallowing assessments and management.