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Electronic Speech Aids for Parkinson's

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.

For an overview of DAF treatment of Parkinson's speech, see Treating Fluency and Speech Rate Disorders in Individuals with Parkinson's Disease: The Use of Delayed Auditory Feedback (DAF), by Paul Blanchet, Journal of Stuttering Therapy, Advocacy and Research (Volume 1, Number 2).

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.