#243 Parkinson’s Speech, 9/11 Stories, and Photos
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| I found this rare nose mushroom in the Scottish Highlands. |
This issues photos. While a few of the photos relate to the text material, the rest are of fungi--trying to give voice to the fungi--and some of sky phenomena which are interesting to me anytime. I hope you find the material enlightening and entertaining.
About Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) causes the loss of dopamine and the loss of dopamine means that commands for body movements never reach the brain cells necessary to make those movements. This is a very simplified description of a very complex condition, but it will serve to explain why more than 90% of PD patients have difficulty with speaking and swallowing—both of which are complex movements that most people do automatically.
Dysphasia (swallowing difficulty) affects more than 80% of people with PD. The loss of dopamine disrupts the automatic coordination of muscles and nerves involved in the moving of food and liquid safely. This creates distinct risks. First is Aspiration Pneumonia, inhaled food. Food, liquids (even saliva) can introduce bacteria into the lungs. It’s the number one cause of death in Parkinson’s Disease. The second risk is malnutrition and dehydration. Difficulty eating or drinking can cause unintentional weight loss and poor nutrition.
Voice problems, a speech disorder called Hypokinetic Dyarthria, affects more than 90% of those of us with Parkinson’s Disease. What does PD Voice sound like? Reduced volume is one of many communication problems associated with PD. Speaking too quietly without being aware of it (Hypophonia) is one of the most common problems. People with PD also tend to be monotone or lack pitch or tone variation. Breathy or hoarse voice is caused by the complete closure of vocal folds. Slurry or imprecise articulation characterizes the speaking of many with PD. So too does abnormal speech rates—too quick, trailing off, getting stuck with stammer or stutter. Cognatve factors—attention, working memory, and auditory feedback processing challenges—also play a part to disrupt communication flow.
Voice problems have been one of the hardest parts of Parkinson’s Disease for me to accept. As a speech competitor, teacher, and coach for most of my life (speech and debate competitor for 7 years in high school and college, speech teacher and coach for 25 years, and Toastmaster member for 35 years)—it’s frightening to be loosing my ability to communicate effectively. I find myself hating to be in groups where I should be eagerly participating. Instead I flounder and have difficulty keeping track of the pertinent discussion, or I’m too slow in my thinking to be able to add my thoughts or opinions. When I try to participate I am held back by speaking too softly, having difficulty thinking of the right word, stumble over words, or (most embarrassingly) spit excess saliva (drooling dog syndrome) all over myself and those too close.
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| I don't know where we were going, but we got a good view of the moon and Venus off our plane's wing. |
What to do about a big problem? A great suggestion was an appointment with a Speech-Language Therapist (a professional speech counselor). Intervention by a trained therapist can protect and improve communication and aide swallowing. Through my doctor I got hooked up with Karrin, a trained Speech Therapist. Using SPEAK OUT! which was developed by Parkinson’s Voice Project (www.parkinsonvoiceproject.org) I entered a program of eight to ten sessions with a therapist plus daily practices (homework) to continue beyond the training sessions. After my training sessions, spread over four weeks, I have continued my daily practice and am pleased with the results. I also can see that I will need to continue my practice and occasional professional help for as long as I can. [I’m sorry, but PD is a life-long commitment.] The SPEAK OUT! exercises with material from PVP helps to regain and retain speaking and swallowing muscles and can improve volume, articulation, breath support for speech, vocal quality, intonation, and facial expression. Training also improves muscle control needed for swallowing. What I learned in SPEAK OUT! to help me battle PD would have been great knowledge for me in my speech teaching and coaching—a major weakness in my speech major at Linfield College and my Masters program at Western Oregon University. But I’m learning now.
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| Balnakeil beach in the far northwest corner of Scotland. |
Two 9/11 Stories Related to My Last Post
Story One: Killin and the Jets
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| NATO jets flying out of Lossiemouth AF Base in Scotland. |
A few days after the attack on America on 9/11/2001 Anne and I were in Killin, Scotland, a highland village famous for its Falls of Dochart.
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| Falls of Dochart. |
The world was still fairly shattered by the attack, but people were beginning to come to grips with their lives after 9/11. I had taken pictures at the falls and we were in a local gift shop located in an old flour mill when the sound of jets blasted overhead caused people, locals and tourists. to scream and hit the deck in panic.
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While NATO jets flying low through glens in training flights were a fairly common occurance, these jets were flying faster than normal and lower than normal and they certainly spooked an already nervous population. People who had run outside took a minute or two to start filtering back into the shop. That was okay because several who had stayed inside took their time getting up off the floor. We used the time to catch our collective breath. It certainly wasn’t tourist shopping as usual.
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| Total eclipse of the sun, 2017, from Salem, OR. |
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| Partial lunar eclipse and Jupiter. |
Story Two: Iona in a Year’s Time
It’s 9/11/2002 and we were in Iona. Scotland, a small sacred island off the Ross of Mull on the west coast of Scotland. Iona is known as the “Cradle of Christianity” because of the Irish monk, St Columba, who established the first Celtic monastery in Scotland in 563 AD on Iona. It was at Iona that the Book of Kells, a famous illuminated manuscript was begun around 800 AD. The Book was moved to Ireland to protect it from plundering Vikings and was completed in the Kell Abbey. Pages of the Book can be seen now at Trinity College in Dublin. Today, the Iona Abbey and Nunnery (13th century) are active religious centers and are, along with the Kings’ Cemetery, interesting tourist attractions.
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| The thinnest crescent moon I've ever shot. |
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| Double rainbow on Isle of Skye, Scotland. The second bow is above the primary bow and is always quite dim. The secondary bow also has the colors reversed. |
We were in the Abbey Chapel at 1:46 pm, when the whole country held a Moment of Silence in honor of the time American flight 11 hit the North Tower. Very powerful! It was also powerful when at 2:03 pm. another Moment of Silence was held in remembrance of United flight 175 hitting the South Tower. If only we would all remember and honor all those touched by the 9/11 tragedy. Although I must admit that by the time the Second Moment was called I was in the Abbey Gift Shop, but it is next to the Chapel.
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| Amanita, Death Cap, deadly mushroom. |
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| Sunset on WA coast. |
Next: Give me any suggestions you have for content or photos for future blogs.
On a Personal Note: We are sad to say good-bye to Linda Abbie Allen, a teacher, counselor, Toastmaster, and friend who passed suddenly about a month ago. Abbie was one of the most positive people in the world and was almost always the first person to send me her comments on the Blog. She will be missed by all who knew her.
