When you presume there are complications with swallowing or with voice tone issues schedule an appointment with a speech pathologist that works with Parkinson’s clients since these two challenges are frequently together. Speech therapy is an essential part of the management of Parkinson’s for swallowing and tone of voice challenges and quality of life.

It is critical that a speech pathologist and therapist become an element of the comprehensive support team not only for voice issues and swallowing but for a condition of silent aspiration.  This is whenever food enters the windpipe into the lungs with no symptoms of coughing or choking.  If not acknowledged will result in aspiration pneumonia that can be life threatening.

What to look for to recognize problems with swallowing, it might be the duration of time to eat and weight loss. The slowness of eating by the time food makes its way into the stomach and still hungry. The food is cold and not appealing and the saliva has been used the mouth is dry and the without saliva simply no taste for food. The saliva assists in chewing and swallowing.  Watch for these as a pattern develops:

• Any variation in weight and weight loss
• Constance drooling
• Repeated instances of heartburn and acid reflux
• The inability to clear the mouth of food stuff
• Begin choking on food, liquids or saliva
• Gurgling and a low voice quality
• When consuming food or drinking causes coughing
• Swallowing of medications become problematic
• Swallowing is painful
• On-going chest infections
• Poor or loss of appetite
• Food stuff becoming stuck or lodging in the throat or windpipe

All these are some simple recommendations that may help with the swallowing as drinking a cold beverage to begin the day which should help stimulate swallowing. A thickener for drinks may be something to add to the diet and daily routine. The speech therapist member of your comprehensive support team will be critical in this evaluation and making recommendation like:

• Frequently sipping water and sucking on ice prior to meals and during the day will increase the ability to swallow as well as thin phlegm
• Decrease the intake of sugar as sugar increases saliva
• Relieve drooling by sucking on sugarless candy
• Eat slowly, small bites and chew thoroughly
• Good posture sitting straight and upright during the meal and afterwards
• Drink small sips of water when eating
• Rinse mouth after meals
• Soft foods should be added to the diet and if necessary pureed in a blender
• Tea with lemon will thin phlegm
• Avoid dairy products which will increase phlegm
• Drink thicker liquids which are easier to swallow
• Moisten dry foods making them easier to swallow
• Sleep with the head elevated which will prevent choking