SPEECH DISORDERS IN PATIENTS WITH PARKINS ONS-DISEASE

Parkinson's disease is not only a disorder affecting locomotion, but o ften also causes speech problems. Functional impairment of articulatio n, phonation, prosody and also respiration may occur. Speech disorder is frequent in Parkinson's disease and often has an impact on the qual ity of life. Speech therapy is by no means offered as a matter of cour se to these patients. This article outlines the different approaches o f speech therapy regarding respiration, loudness, articulation, prosod y, and intonation. Speech therapy seems to be useful in patients with Parkinson's disease only if there is no cognitive impairment; success also depends on motivation and eventual frequent repetition of therapy series.