One of the most common symptoms experienced by people living with Parkinson’s is changes to their voice and communication.
While not everyone experiences these issues, many do. The stage when these problems might occur is different for everyone and the symptoms will vary from person to person but may include:
- Reduced volume of speech
- Slurred speech
- Fast speech
- Difficulty articulating words
- A monotonous tone
- A hoarse voice
- Small, spidery handwriting (known as micrographia)
- Reduced facial expressions
- Reduced body language, including hand gestures.
A speech pathologist is an essential member of your multidisciplinary health team who can work with you to manage your symptoms, but sometimes adding a bit of fun can also go a long way.
Singing benefits
Research into the benefits of singing for people living with Parkinson’s show it can improve respiratory control, speech and voice, facial expression, mood, the immune system and cardio-vascular health.
But why does singing cause these improvements?
Singing uses vocal folds and the same muscles used in talking but in a fun and accessible way. It also requires a higher load on the vocal muscles to sing than to talk. Holding sounds, producing sounds for longer and with more volume requires more strength.
Singing can be an excellent form of exercise, providing a work-out for your voice and lungs and releasing endorphins to make you feel energised and uplifted.
Singing can also provide several emotional benefits including:
- improved confidence
- reduced anxiety
- increased feelings of well-being
- reduced feelings of social isolation.
ParkinSong
ParkinSong™ is an activity-based peer support program involving vocal warm-up and exercise, practical communication activities, group singing and social engagement that commenced in Williamstown in 2013.
The ParkinSong™ research project indicated singing participants made a statistically significant improvement in vocal intensity (voice loudness), maximum expiratory pressure (respiratory strength) and voice related quality of life (more positive perceptions about their voice and communication).
This program is run at various locations across Victoria. Anyone interested in attending ParkinSong™ can call our health team on (03) 8809 0400 for information.
Online Singing
If meeting with a group feels intimidating or you are unable to access a ParkinSong™ group in person, Fight Parkinson’s runs regular online singing sessions.
And the beauty of online singing is that you can sing to your heart’s content as the only person who will hear you – is you!
Each week the song book changes and requests are always welcomed. Some sessions run to themes such as Christmas carols in December while others are more of a mix. Participants also have the chance to help shape the sessions by putting in a song request when registering for each session.
These free online sessions run on selected Fridays between 10:30am and 11:30am via Zoom.
