Speech and voice problems may be one of the daily challenges you face with multiple sclerosis. If any of the five systems necessary to speech and voice production are hindered due to lesions on your brain then you could experience:
Harsh voice Scratchy voice Slurred speech Tremor in pitch Variable breath control
In Living With Multiple Sclerosis, Catanzaro and Kraft give a comprehensive explanation of speech and voice issues:
"The most common cause of speech problems in MS is due to an impairment in the muscles that are needed for speaking. Speech may become slurred and difficult to understand. Speech therapists use a variety of techniques that may improve communication, although the problem cannot be cured.
Another problem arises when chest muscles are weak and the person's voice is soft because he cannot get enough air behind it. Personal amplifier systems are inexpensive and work well to overcome this problem"
Some of the treatments that a speech/language pathologist or an ENT (ear, nose, and throat physician) might recommend are:
Monitoring your own voice with a recorder and practicing vocalization Exercising the body parts necessary to speak, including lips, tongue, soft palate, vocal chords, and diaphragm Using a communication device (e.g., personal amplifier)
Updated: February 11, 2004
Speech and voice problems may be one of the daily challenges you face with multiple sclerosis. If any of the five systems necessary to speech and voice production are hindered due to lesions on your brain then you could experience:
Harsh voice Scratchy voice Slurred speech Tremor in pitch Variable breath control
In Living With Multiple Sclerosis, Catanzaro and Kraft give a comprehensive explanation of speech and voice issues:
"The most common cause of speech problems in MS is due to an impairment in the muscles that are needed for speaking. Speech may become slurred and difficult to understand. Speech therapists use a variety of techniques that may improve communication, although the problem cannot be cured.
Another problem arises when chest muscles are weak and the person's voice is soft because he cannot get enough air behind it. Personal amplifier systems are inexpensive and work well to overcome this problem"
Some of the treatments that a speech/language pathologist or an ENT (ear, nose, and throat physician) might recommend are:
Monitoring your own voice with a recorder and practicing vocalization Exercising the body parts necessary to speak, including lips, tongue, soft palate, vocal chords, and diaphragm Using a communication device (e.g., personal amplifier)
Updated: February 11, 2004
2 comments:
Lisa, sorry you have to struggle with this, Hugs Lisa
I had a dear friend years ago that had MS and she also had 4 small children. I used to help her out with them as she would not be able to care for them. She did have times when it went into remission and all would be well for a long time. I haven't seen her at all for about 15 years and often wonder how she is doing. The wonderful thing was her sense of humor and she never let it get her down. Your message today just reminded me of her. 'On Ya' - ma
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