Finding my voice: Paul's story

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2018, when I was 52. It can be overwhelming because of the uncertainty. There are 40 different symptoms. You think, which one of those roads am I on? Even today, I still don’t know where my Parkinson’s is taking me because it’s not fully understood.

The trio of fear 

When I was first diagnosed, anxiety hit me like I’d been punched between the eyes, and I didn’t have a clue what it was. I ran a busy office at the time, and I’d worked with some of the people there for 25 years. 

All of a sudden I couldn’t speak to them. It felt like the walls were closing in. As well as anxiety, I struggled with insomnia and fatigue. I call them the trio of fear. If you’re not sleeping, you’re fatigued, and anxiety comes into play. You wonder: "How am I going to get through the day? I’m so tired," and this goes on and on in a vicious spiral.

Losing my voice

In June 2025, I noticed my voice started to get very soft and very croaky, and by September 2025, I’d lost my voice almost completely. People kept on saying, "Sorry, can you say that again? Sorry, I can’t hear you."

They’re not doing it in a nasty way. But it pushes you more into a corner, it makes you feel more isolated. And Parkinson’s can be quite an isolating condition as it is. I was getting to the point where I was having to write things down to communicate, and that was very, very frustrating. 

I asked my Parkinson’s nurse about my loss of voice and she recommended a 5 week speech therapy course. 

They made us feel that yes, you’ve got Parkinson’s, but you’re welcome here, you can relax.

Learning to speak again 

The course went through the mechanics of how the voice works, why Parkinson’s takes your voice, and how you can be heard more clearly. You tend to try and get the words out quickly before you run out of breath, and to stop people finishing the sentence for you. 

We worked on slowing the voice down, raising the pitch, looking at the person as you spoke, voice exercises, and tongue-twisters. I’m not normally one for singing. I’m totally embarrassed about those sorts of things, and because of Parkinson’s I can’t remember things very well. 

But I joined a choir, just a group of people that got together to sing a few lines, and that really worked for me. As I gained confidence, I found I was enjoying it more, and I was more audible.

A public test 

Part-way through the speech therapy course was my daughter’s wedding.

I had my other daughter and my nephew on hand to help me if I couldn’t quite get through it. To prepare for the speech, my wife and I went outside and did a lot of voice exercises. 

And with the aid of a microphone, I gave the speech. I was so proud, and there were a few tears. 

My Parkinson’s nurse 

I have a very good relationship with my Parkinson’s nurse, Louise, going back to 2018 when I was diagnosed. In 2021, out of nowhere I developed very bad ulcerative colitis, and was spending 12 hours each day on the toilet. By October that year, I needed a stoma operation as my health was deteriorating rapidly. During my 5 weeks in hospital, Louise was on hand to sort out my meds because I wasn’t absorbing them properly. 

Despite the best care from the nurses and doctors, I lost a lot of weight and battled various illnesses and infections. Louise was constantly in touch to make sure I was OK, and also provided encouragement to my wife Sharon, who, as my carer, was starting to break down from the stress of dealing with it all. 

‘The Board’ 

Fast forward about a year, Louise asked if I would share my story with the hospital board. I put together a little bit of a slideshow, and I thought there would be about four or five people in the meeting room. But when I arrived, there were about 70 or 80 people there. It was rammed. 

My anxiety went through the roof, and I didn’t know whether I was going to be able to do it. But I pushed through. It was extremely emotional. By the time we finished, the whole room was either clapping or crying. It was a really surreal moment. And it inspired me to write a poem about it, called ‘The Board’.

Louise actually had this poem read at her own wedding a couple of months ago. I’m incredibly honoured to have something of mine read at somebody’s wedding. It means so much to us both in different ways. I wrote the odd poem when I was younger, but nothing like what I do now. If you’d said to me five years ago that I’d write two books of poetry, I’d go, “Yeah, right. No chance.”

The Board

Oh my god, good lord, I’ve been asked to present my story to the hospital board 

It was nice to be asked but my anxiety hit the roof I couldn’t face people and that was the truth 

My Parkinsons nurse Louise recommended me for the gig So, I got all dressed up and acted big 

Sat in the canteen waiting for the nod I was gonna start with, I was saved by God! 

But not religious and moving on quickly In boardroom, it’s rammed and I’m feeling sickly 

Sit down, sweaty palms and get introduced I look over at Hollie my daughter which gives me a boost 

It's time to speak, to have my say It now or never, do I leave, or do I stay? 

To my dear friend confidence, I love your timing I pitch for 10 minutes, it was very defining 

Onto the last slide and a get a tap on the knee I'll read this slide, as the room gets all emotionally 

Louise delivered the perfect last slide Some people applauded and some people cried 

Some Q&A and I'm relaxed and at ease Where was my anxiety gone, it's such a bloody tease 

So, if you suffer with Anxiety, you can always seek what’s already inside, faith, courage, and confidence to speak 

So, When I look back at all that emotion I think, look how far I've come with NHS devotion.

Voice Therapy 

Nine anxious Parkinson’s peeps, please take a seat
There's Clive, Phil, Tony, four Davids and a Pete

It’s a 5-week course designed to help you speak
The toilet is just outside if you need to take a leak

It’s about communication, which will help your soft dulcet tones
Read these pamphlets and please turn off your phones

Some of the work is individual and some will be in teams
We also have an interval, Tea, Coffee, and custard creams

You’re here unfortunately because you talk quietly or whisper
Slow down the delivery rate, your voice will be much crisper

Discuss the speech barriers and why were not heard
Parkinson’s is progressive & sometimes the voice is slurred

When we mumble, it’s because sometimes we talk too fast
This creates a barrier, then people can’t be arsed

Let’s start with these tongue twisters, try and give it your all
Peter piper picked a pickled pepper said the parkie poet Paul

This exercises your vocal chords; it vibrates down your throat
Try to practice in pairs, we’re all in the same boat

Your larynx makes this noise and escapes via the lips
Take a long deep breath, helps delivery and the yips

Project your sound and really work that tongue
Increase the volume, see how far it’s flung

Practise these short sentences and increase the pitch
It’s great for confidence and the Anxiety you can ditch

Feel the vibration resonate across the top of your palate
There are other ways of course, but that involves a mallet

Any questions, it’s important they’re voiced
Oh, and hydrate, make sure your throat is nice and moist

Ok, deep breath, head up, shoulders square, feet firmly on the floor
Your voice once soft, quiet & incoherent, now let’s hear it roar

Remember to crank up your voice, but no need to yell
If it starts to disappear again, that should ring a bell

A heartfelt thanks for giving us the choice
It’s been more than therapy; it’s given us a voice!