The value of being able to communicate with others is paramount in our daily lives. Having the ability to express your wants, needs and thoughts clearly can often be taken for granted, and if you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease the ability to communicate effectively may no longer be an option. SpeechEasyPD can help.
SpeechEasyPD is a tool to help you regain control of your speech. It is proven technology which can be used to increase speech intelligibility in those with Parkinson’s. Worn in one ear and similar in appearance to a hearing aid, SpeechEasyPD has been shown to help those with Parkinson’s increase their ability to communicate more effectively and confidently. SpeechEasyPD delivers Delayed Auditory Feedback (a time delay) and Frequency Altered Feedback (a change in pitch) to help address speech intelligibility issues, specifically the repetitions of speech that many people with the disease exhibit. When using DAF and FAF, a person experiences what is called the “choral speech effect.” Choral speech is simply people speaking together in unison and it has been shown that this effect can help lessen repetitions and hurried speech. Simply put, by using the device and hearing oneself speak at a slight delay and change in pitch, the brain perceives that as someone speaking along with you. Therefore, the effects of choral speech are present.
In addition to helping decrease repetitions of speech that some patients with Parkinson’s experience, SpeechEasyPD can also help address other common speech issues. Some of these issues include vocal loudness, articulation issues and an increased rate of speech. SpeechEasyPD can also help with self-monitoring of speech and overall, improve the client’s communication as a whole.