Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with deep brain stimulation. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015, things weren’t too bad. I had a slight tremor…

Last in a series. Read parts one and two.  Before I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2015, I used to love getting in front of people to talk to them, usually about food, farming, or buying locally. I found it thrilling. I felt confident and intelligent…

Second in a series. Read part one. Every Tuesday I go on a walk with my Parkinson’s buddies. I started this “walk ‘n’ talk” group after my deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery in 2021. I like talking about Parkinson’s, and usually I ask the other walkers questions…

First in a series. I recently heard a rumor that I wasn’t doing very well. An old friend dropped by and spoke to my husband, John. The friend said he’d heard from someone else that my health was failing. Near death, by the sound of it. Communication can be tricky,…

The Speech Accessibility Project continues to seek participants for its initiative, which focuses on enhancing voice recognition software for people facing speech difficulties like those associated with Parkinson’s disease. The project gathers voice recordings from people with Parkinson’s and related neurological conditions, such as multiple system atrophy…

A research project to help enhance communication for individuals with Parkinson’s disease has been awarded a multimillion-dollar grant. The five-year grant from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, a branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was given to a team of researchers led by…

Before I knew I had Parkinson’s disease, or even what it was, my family lost their collective mind. They insisted I was whispering and they couldn’t hear what I was saying. I still remember thinking they were all crazy. Were they gaslighting me? Why would they do that? Was…

Changes in the electrical activity of a brain region called the left inferior frontal cortex (LIFC) may underlie certain speech difficulties in people with Parkinson’s disease, a study found. Patients with more severe articulation problems had higher frequency activity in the LIFC, and more limited communication between the LIFC…

I recently had a FaceTime conversation with Brittany Dunnum, a speech therapist in Lewiston, Idaho, who works with Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and utilizes methods developed by the nonprofit Parkinson Voice Project. I met her in Washington, D.C., at the 2019 Parkinson’s Policy Forum sponsored by The Michael…

Nurses emphasize the importance of developing relationships with Parkinson’s patients in their care and getting to know these people as individuals for effective communication in healthcare settings, a study from Australia reports. The study, “Communication strategies used by Parkinson’s nurse specialists during healthcare interactions: A qualitative descriptive study,” was published…