Parkinson’s Speech Therapy Exercises: Improve Communication
Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that impacts the muscles responsible for speech, causing reduced volume, slurred speech, and a monotone voice. Common speech challenges include articulation, breath control, and decreased facial movements and expressions. Speech therapy can play a vital role in helping patients maintain communication abilities in various settings with assistance from a care team.
The Benefits of Speech Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease
Personalized speech therapy helps strengthen vocal muscles, provides breath support, and improves articulation. Therapy can help increase confidence in communication abilities. Speech therapists will assess and plan personalized exercises tailored to the individual's progression of Parkinson’s. It is important to note that the SLP will prioritize your communication and swallowing needs.
7 Parkinson’s Speech Therapy Exercises to Improve Speech & Voice
1. Deep Breathing Exercises
Diaphragmatic breathing is a breathing exercise that strengthens voice control and projection. By taking a closed-mouth inhale, the diaphragm lowers in order for the stomach to expand. Then, on a sighed exhale, the diaphragm returns to its resting position. This deep breathing exercise assists in reducing stress or anxiety and improves lung function, amongst other benefits.
2. Pitch Glides
The SLP may ask you to move through different pitches in order to help maintain vocal range and flexibility. By starting at a comfortable lower pitch, you glide up to the highest most comfortable pitch and then reverse back to the starting lower pitch.
3. Volume Control Drills
Speech therapy may address increasing vocal loudness in order to counteract Parkinson ’s-related speech softening. Exercises may include reading passages out loud, practicing with functional phrases and sentences, or engaging in practice conversation topics.
4. Articulation and Clarity Exercises
The SLP may recommend articulation and intelligibility exercises to improve speech production and clarity in your everyday speech. This can include working on specific sounds, multisyllabic words, or general intelligibility strategies like word choice, overarticulation, or breath support.
5. Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD®)
The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD®) is an evidence-based program designed to address clarity and voice concerns that are present with Parkinson’s. It is an intensive program that requires repetitive activities, self-monitoring and clinician-led feedback, and functional tasks that can be addressed in non-therapy settings with the support of caregivers. Reach out to a certified LSVT LOUD® speech pathologist if you wish to pursue this program.
6. Facial Muscle Exercises
Facial muscle exercises in speech therapy may help improve speech clarity and expression. Based on your needs, recommendations from your care team, and medical history, the SLP may recommend oral motor muscle exercises to address facial expressions, oral motor control, or other communication/swallowing functions.
7. Reading Aloud & Conversational Practice
As part of a homework regimen, the SLP may ask individuals to read aloud daily to build confidence and fluency. This can be magazine articles, newspaper stories, web blog posts, or even X/Twitter threads. Conversation practice can also play a role in building confidence in speaking with loved ones or friends to improve speech flow and articulation.
How to Incorporate Speech Therapy Exercises Into Daily Life
Patients and their loved ones may want to know when to expect these changes outside of the therapy room. It is vital to practice outside of speech therapy if you would like to see progress. Luckily, there are many ways to work and keep a record of your progress. Even devoting 5 minutes a day to practicing deep breathing or reading can make a difference. You can use recording devices to self-monitor your progress and identify areas of improvement. Be sure to share your progress with your licensed speech therapist so they can adjust and modify your program to fit your needs!
When to Seek Professional Speech Therapy for Parkinson’s
Individuals should seek therapy if they notice voice softening, slurred speech, or difficulty being understood. Early detection with your care team can lead to better outcomes in maintaining vocal function. Speech therapy can be accessible to your needs by offering virtual settings to help ease traveling and help generalize skills in your own home!
Take the First Step Toward Stronger Speech
Parkinson’s disease can be a journey to reaching your preferred means of communicating and in what manner. Working with a licensed speech-language pathologist can help create personalized goals to address language in a way that empowers your child to be an effective communicator. You can continue to learn more about Parkinson’s and how speech therapy can help you here at Verse Therapy, or check out resources like the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA).
Do you have more questions? You can schedule a free consultation with one of our partnered SLPs to see if fluency therapy is right for you or your loved ones!