‘Did the gorilla moo?’ and other Parkinson’s greatest hits
We've found that life is better when we learn to recognize the humor
As we headed to bed last night, it was storming loudly, with hail and terrible wind. Lightning flashed in the windows, and the rain came down all night long.
When we awoke in the morning, the first words from my husband, Arman, were “Did the gorilla moo?” I wasn’t sure if he was still groggy and possibly sleep-talking or if that was the start of our typical daily banter. “Can you repeat that?” I asked.
As it turned out, he was fully awake and not talking in his sleep. He was concerned about the night’s storm and was actually asking, “Did the grill move?”
We both laughed uncontrollably as I explained what I thought he’d said.
With Parkinson’s disease, speech difficulties are common and can become quite challenging. It can be difficult to participate in a social setting, at work, or even on the phone when others have a hard time hearing or understanding.
Arman, who was diagnosed in 2009 with early-onset Parkinson’s disease at age 38, rarely dealt with speech issues until he had deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. Of course, his speech wasn’t perfect before DBS, but I believe the surgery had an adverse effect on it. Before DBS, his speech slowly became softer, although it was such a slow progression that I hardly even noticed it.
He was proactive about his speech issues and began speech therapy not long after he noticed the softening of his voice. We found a speech therapist in our area who was certified by the Parkinson Voice Project’s SPEAK OUT program. He participated in individual therapy sessions for a few months and then moved on to their group program. Nowadays, he often participates in their daily online home practice sessions. It’s critical to continue consistently working on speech to make the most of the therapy.
Because it frequently happens throughout that day that Arman will say something and I’ll hear something else, we’ve made a game out of it. Sometimes my interpretations are funny, such as the gorilla situation this morning. We’ve often considered writing a book about all the silly things I’ve thought I heard him say.
We love to have fun and embrace the laughter that Parkinson’s has brought into our lives. We also realize the importance of not taking life too seriously, a tactic that has benefited us personally and strengthened our relationship.
I hope you enjoy our little game of seeing what words Parkinson’s turns into jokes!
Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.
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