Individuals with a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (PD) often experience changes in voice resulting in weak volume and loss of projection, hoarseness, breathiness and other perceptual changes. These changes are often attributed to loss of tissue elasticity or stiffness and muscle weakness. Increased stiffness of the trunk muscles and loss of respiratory strength can also impact how efficiently one is able to move air in and out during breathing and speaking.
Interestingly, many of these same changes to voice can occur in older healthy adults due to many of the same physiologic changes in their breathing and voice system. When chronic voice problems like hoarseness are due to age related changes, the clinical diagnosis used by the Ear Nose and Throat doctor (ENT), is presbylarynx. With PD and presbylarynx, other contributors to voice changes include: medications which may dry the mucosal surfaces, chronic acid reflux, chronic pulmonary problems such as COPD, asthma or emphysema, and hearing loss.
The first step to management of these problems should always be an examination by an ENT to rule out any other reason for voice changes. The second step should be to embark on a voice strengthening program, which will likely include: vocal function exercises, respiratory support exercises, stretches and range of motion exercises to activate the extensor muscles of the upper body and to support posture, and vocal hygiene education.
A program of regular physical conditioning along with vocal function exercises can benefit individuals with voice changes related to Parkinson's Disease as well as older adults wishing to maintain good vocal functioning into old age.
Voice Aerobics(TM) is a guided program, affordable and easy to follow, incorporating many of the strategies mentioned above.
Interestingly, many of these same changes to voice can occur in older healthy adults due to many of the same physiologic changes in their breathing and voice system. When chronic voice problems like hoarseness are due to age related changes, the clinical diagnosis used by the Ear Nose and Throat doctor (ENT), is presbylarynx. With PD and presbylarynx, other contributors to voice changes include: medications which may dry the mucosal surfaces, chronic acid reflux, chronic pulmonary problems such as COPD, asthma or emphysema, and hearing loss.
The first step to management of these problems should always be an examination by an ENT to rule out any other reason for voice changes. The second step should be to embark on a voice strengthening program, which will likely include: vocal function exercises, respiratory support exercises, stretches and range of motion exercises to activate the extensor muscles of the upper body and to support posture, and vocal hygiene education.
A program of regular physical conditioning along with vocal function exercises can benefit individuals with voice changes related to Parkinson's Disease as well as older adults wishing to maintain good vocal functioning into old age.
Voice Aerobics(TM) is a guided program, affordable and easy to follow, incorporating many of the strategies mentioned above.
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