The speech disorders associated with Parkinson's disease include low volume and poor articulation. This video shows a Parkinson's patient speaking for one minute without aid, and then one minute with a SmallTalk set for one octave up FAF and 30 milliseconds DAF.
The SmallTalk seems to improve the speech of some Parkinson's patients but not others. Two studies are now investigating what types of Parkinson's respond to the device. The studies are being conducted at the Parkinsons and Movement Disorders Center in Elkridge, Maryland, and at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.
FAF upshifting appears to induce increased vocal fold and other speech motor activity. The effect on Parkinson's patients, when it exists, is increased clarity but not increased volume. The result is clear but quiet speech. The effects are immediate and require no training, therapy, or mental effort. The latter is important for individuals with cognitive impairments.
Many states will provide a DAF/FAF device free to individuals with Parkinson's. However, these devices are usually set up with a FAF downshift for stuttering. If you get such a device, please send it to us and we'll modify it with a FAF upshift for Parkinson's at no charge.
"The PFS is a tremendous adjunct to speech therapy and I would recommend it to anyone who wishes to improve their fluency."
"I ordered a DAF machine and saw wonderful results for my students. I used the device to establish fluency and then introduced fluency shaping techniques. I have three elementary students who have "graduated" from the speech therapy program because they no longer stutter! I whole heartedly endorse your products."
"When Jonathan came home on Friday I had him put on the DAF and tell me about his day. IT WAS AMAZING! He did not stutter at all. I have to tell you, I broke down and cried. It was such a joy to hear him talk and not fight to get his words out."
"The SmallTalk really did a miracle job on my stutter, the result was amazing! I can feel it, it teaches me to relax and more calm, this device gives me self confidence! I can talk now to people and answer phones without any fear at all, also last night I attended a party, I was surprised that I can talk already even without using the device."
"I think you should get a Nobel Prize for your work in the SmallTalk. It is a boon to folks like myself who can't say two words without the device, and I thank you with all my heart for your caring."
"In my stuttering group there came a new member with very bad stuttering. When he said his name it took about three minutes with very big stretches in all his body. With the School DAF he almost at once could speak [slowly] with no problem. That is what I every time find with the DAF."
"While wearing the DAF device, the client engaged in conversation with his peer workers, peers eating lunch, and with faculty and staff. There were no disfluencies noted during this observation. Without the use of the DAF device, the client is approximately 80% fluent."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you. It was wonderful to hear Mr. Jonsson's voice on the phone just now, so much immediate improvement although not perfect. He will now start practicing vigorously every day. At this moment he is enjoying conversation with his wife and children. :)"
"I'm full of joy because I tried the device and it worked perfectly. My friends were surprised because I spoke normaly as I never stuttered. You have given me another chance in my life. GOD bless you and your family. Thank you very much."
"I am a speech therapist in the public school system. I have been using the School DAF and had two students graduated from the speech therapy program who now have fluency within normal limits. Thank you for making a great product that is making a difference in the lives of children who stutter.
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"Thank you very much!! The DAF has completely changed my student's life!"
"I have explained the system to a lot of people already including quite a few clients and they are amazed. I am not 100% fluent at all, but even 50% represents a huge improvement. I feel less stressed when in a meeting and can talk much easier. I am experiencing relaxed speech for the first time in my life.
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"The customer who is currently using the DAF says that the unit has profoundly changed his life! (The guy was in tears over the phone when he told me this.)"
"I have been using the device and it has been working great. I am already noticing a dramatic carry over effect."
"The customer who is currently using the DAF with the wires says that the unit has profoundly changed his life! (The guy was in tears over the phone when he told me this.)"
"I no longer have to stutter, I can use the system. I now have choices."
"Every once in a while I will find myself fighting it, trying to over power it by stuttering; but the system takes over and speech flows."
"I am no longer preoccupied with trying not to stutter. What needs to be done becomes the priority rather than not stuttering. "
"My company purchased the Desktop Fluency System last year for me. I have had great success with it. My fluency greatly increased and I also overcame the fears of making and taking business calls. I have also noticed a carry over effect which I believe is partly due to good speech experiences during my day at work."
"Friends who I've not seen in a long time almost always comment on my improved speech. More to the point, I speak more, and in all situations. I always battled my fear of speech. To me, avoiding speech is worse than the actual spasms of stuttering."
"I wanted to relay to you that the Pocket Fluency System has been working well. I have had one Superior Court judge compliment me on my argument, after using your device. It really is a great product, and feel free to use me as a reference."
"Kurt put the headset on and was immediately fluent. I'm sure you've heard this many times before, but we can't tell you how incredulous we were. To hear Kurt fluent for the first time in a long time was quite something for all of us.
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"The PFS works great for me. As a project manager I'm on the phone a lot and on conference calls with ten or more people. The PFS helps me monitor my targets (full breath, gentle onset, etc.) much better than I can on my own. Speaking takes a lot less effort with the PFS."
"I wanted to let you know how pleased I am with the Pocket Fluency System. I gave a 40 minute presentation on some research I did this summer, and it went really well."
"I've been using it for about 3 years. It completely changed my telephone life. I now make business calls, many times a day. Before the DAF, I never made 1 business call."
"I chaired an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in front of 50 people and was totally fluent with the Pocket Fluency System. The last time I chaired an AA meeting, last Saturday night, I must have stuttered 150 times. I think some of the blocks lasted 4 seconds. Tonight was beyond description!!!! It works!!!!"
"The School DAF device has been very instrumental in fostering fluency with my students. It has been effective with pre-schoolers as well as high schoolers."
"I won a poetry contest. I am a poet and was afraid to read my poetry in public because of my stutter. This was my very first poetry reading. My reading was flawless, and my attention was NOT riveted on my speech. My mind didn't scan ahead, looking for upcoming blocks. I was very relaxed about my speech, having practiced with the DAF at home."
"The improvement in my speech was immediate. With the device I speak fluently most of the time, the device enables me to slow my speech, control my breath, it strengthens my self-confidence and inspires a relaxed feeling. I have to admit, it's a brilliant idea.
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Listeners React to Stuttering An actor who stutters asks audience members what they thought about his speech
Parkinson's Three men with Parkinson's disease and hypokinetic dysarthria, the speech disorder associated with Parkinson's, speak without and then with SmallTalk electronic speech aids.
Carryover Fluency Hillary talks about using her SmallTalk anti-stuttering device to train carryover fluency and no longer need the device.