Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Emeritus Professor Nick Miller
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative neurological disorder. Depletion of dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons gives rise to alterations in movement. Voice and speech, as dependent on movement of the articulators, are not spared. Non-dopaminergic changes can also affect language, cognition and mood, which can impact on communication. This article offers an overview of changes to speech and voice that arise in PD and the impact these underlying changes have on speech naturalness, intelligibility and participation in social life. Assessment and treatment are not a focus, but lessons for these areas are drawn from the description of the nature of overall changes. PD is also predominantly a disease of old age. Many of the alterations to speech and communication characteristic of PD also occur as part of the natural ageing process. Hence the article stresses that understanding communication alterations and their evaluation and treatment must happen within the context of age related changes. © 2009 AELFA y Grupo Ars XXI de Comunicación, S.L.
Author(s): Miller N
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Revista de Logopedia, Foniatria y Audiologia
Year: 2009
Volume: 29
Issue: 1
Pages: 37-46
ISSN (print): 0214-4603
ISSN (electronic): 1578-1712
Publisher: Grupo Ars XXI de Comunicacion, SA