Practical Tips for Improving Parkinson’s Speech and Vocal Strength

Your thoughts are clear, your ideas are sharp, but your voice? It starts to fade out mid-sentence like a weak radio signal. Parkinson’s can turn talking into a daily challenge, but the good news is, there are simple and effective ways to strengthen your speech right from home.

Let’s crank up the volume, boost your vocal confidence, and make sure your voice is heard loud and clear.

Why Speech Changes with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s affects the muscles used for speaking, breathing, and swallowing. This can lead to:

• A softer voice (hypophonia)
• Monotone or hoarse speech
• Slurred or unclear words
• Trouble starting or sustaining speech

These changes can be frustrating, especially in social situations. But with the right techniques, you can improve control and clarity.

Daily Speech Boosters

1. Speak Louder Than You Think You Need To

People with Parkinson’s often think they’re speaking at a normal volume when it’s actually quite soft. Practice projecting your voice, even if it feels exaggerated.

2. Use Your Breath

Good speech starts with strong breath support.

• Take a deep breath before you speak
• Pause and breathe between sentences
• Try saying a short phrase per breath

3. Read Out Loud

Pick your favorite book, poem, or article and read it out loud daily. Focus on volume, clarity, and expression.

4. Try the "Ahhh" Exercise

• Take a deep breath and say “Ahhh” for as long and loud as you can
• Time yourself and try to increase your duration
• Do 3 to 5 rounds per day

5. Mirror Practice

Talk to yourself in the mirror. Watch your posture, facial expressions, and how your mouth moves. This helps build self-awareness and improves articulation.

Bonus Exercises to Try

• Pitch glides: Say "Ahhh" while sliding from low to high pitch and back down
• Over-enunciation drills: Say tongue twisters slowly and clearly (like "red leather, yellow leather")
• Facial warmups: Stretch your face, smile wide, puff your cheeks, and wiggle your eyebrows

Tools That Can Help

• Voice amplifiers for louder communication in public
• Speech therapy apps (like Speak Up, Voice Trainer, or Speech Blubs)
• Smartphone recordings to monitor progress over time

Consider a Speech Therapist

Working with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) trained in Parkinson’s therapies like LSVT LOUD or SPEAK OUT! can supercharge your progress.

They’ll help with:

• Breathing techniques
• Vocal strength
• Conversational strategies
• Swallowing safety (bonus!)

Final Thoughts

Your voice is a huge part of who you are. It deserves to be heard.

With consistent practice and a few clever strategies, you can improve your speech strength and clarity. So breathe deep, speak up, and keep talking. You’ve got a lot to say, and we want to hear every word.

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