Parkinson’s Disease Flashcards
What is Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years.
What is the impact of Parkinson’s Disease in relation to the SLT profession
People affected by Parkinson’s can develop problems with communication and dysphagia. They may also experience non-motor changes that can impact on communication such as depression, anxiety, apathy, fatigue, pain, cog changes etc.
What are some of the communication changes a person with Parkinson’s Disease may experience
Parkinson’s affects all aspects of communication. This includes language, facial expression, speech and voice. This can lead to less confidence, affect peoples employment, difficulty keeping place in conversation / understanding + conveying information
The person may have difficulty accessing the meaning to words / content of the message - this will start of subtle and become more obvious later on
The person may have reduced facial expression / ability to use their face, hands and arms
The person may have articulation issues - slurred words - missed out words etc.
Issues with intonation and voice e.g. speech sounds all on one level or may have a quieter voice
What are some of the Swallowing changes a person with Parkinson’s Disease may experience
There may be a difficulty in the following:
- Chewing / manipulating the bolus
- Maintaining lip seal
- Propelling food
- Delayed swallow trigger
- Delayed, diminished or absent reflexes that protect the food from entering the airway
- Poor clearing of food and drink - residue from around the windpipe
- Slow transit
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Parkinson’s and Saliva (Drooling)
Parkinson’s affects the control of saliva, which can lead to drooling. Drooling is associated with reduced swallowing ability and this is exacerbated by a poor lip seal. This affects everyday life, hydration levels, quality of life and social participation
