ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 26, 2024
ASHA Shares Information on Treatment Options as Brett Favre's Revelation Puts Disease in the Spotlight
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ROCKVILLE, Md. , Sept. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- When people think of Parkinson's disease, they often envision tremors or other difficulties with movement. However, Parkinson's disease can also affect a person's voice quality, speech and language skills, and swallowing abilities—all of which can have a significant impact on daily functioning and quality of life.
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With Parkinson's disease in the spotlight following the news of Brett Favre's diagnosis, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is stressing the importance of treatment services for Parkinson's-related communication and swallowing difficulties.
According to the Parkinson's Foundation, speech and swallowing challenges are common for people with Parkinson's and can interfere with important parts of life, like enjoying favorite foods or participating in conversations with family and friends. Early evaluation and treatment by speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can improve quality of life and help reduce and manage more serious speech and swallowing issues later.
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to control movement. Changes in voice or speech can be among the earliest signs of Parkinson's. As the condition progresses, muscle control needed for speech, chewing, swallowing, and breathing can decline.
Communication Challenges
A person with Parkinson's disease may experience a variety of symptoms that can interfere with their ability to communicate effectively. These symptoms include the following:
Swallowing Challenges
Swallowing problems for people with Parkinson's range in severity and can become more severe as the disease progresses. Symptoms can include the following:
Without proper treatment, swallowing problems can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, aspiration (food or liquid entering the airway), and pneumonia or lung infections.
How SLPs Can Help
SLPs can help people with Parkinson's maximize their quality of life during each stage of the disease. They also help care partners in supporting the person with Parkinson's. Here are some of the specific ways that SLPs help:
More information about SLP services is available at http://www.asha.org/public.
About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for 234,000 members and affiliates who are audiologists; speech-language pathologists; speech, language, and hearing scientists; audiology and speech-language pathology assistants; and students. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment, including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) identify, assess, and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders. http://www.asha.org
Media Contact
Francine Pierson, ASHA, 301-296-8715, [email protected], https://www.asha.org
View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/speech-language-and-swallowing-difficulties-are-common-in-people-with-parkinsons-disease-302260300.html
SOURCE ASHA
