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Real members of MyParkinsonsTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

My voice has grown raspy over the past several months and I am wondering if this could be Parkinson’s causing it.

A MyParkinsonsTeam Member asked a question 💭
Tulsa, OK
July 9
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A MyParkinsonsTeam Member

My voice has done the same. My occupational therapy saw that I was having trouble swallowing and got mea referral to a speech therapist. She worked on myy swallowing issueswhich were a big ptoblem for me. She then put me in the Speak Out program where I do voice, speaking exervcises each week from my computer program and also weekkly sessions with her. This has improved my strength of my voice . I would advise you to seek out a speech therapist who is familiar with Parkinnson that can also get you involved with the speech out online program which you do everyday on your computer I had really helped me. Good luck to you. Excuse my typing, I am holding my computer on my lap and my typing skills are not good anymore.

July 10
MyParkinsonsTeam

Voice changes are very common with Parkinson's, affecting between 75% and 90% of people at some point. These changes happen because Parkinson's weakens the muscles used for breathing and speaking, including the voice box and diaphragm.

Common speech symptoms include:

- A quiet or breathy voice
- Raspy or strained speech
- Show Full Answer

Voice changes are very common with Parkinson's, affecting between 75% and 90% of people at some point. These changes happen because Parkinson's weakens the muscles used for breathing and speaking, including the voice box and diaphragm.

Common speech symptoms include:

- A quiet or breathy voice
- Raspy or strained speech
- Monotone or flat-sounding voice
- Mumbling or slurring words
- Voice that gets softer as the day goes on
- Stuttering or stammering One thing worth knowing is that Parkinson's can affect how a person hears their own voice — some people don't realize they're speaking quietly and think they sound normal. This can make communication even more challenging.

As a MyParkinsonsTeam member shared, "My voice gets thinner and softer as the day wears on."

The good news is there are effective ways to manage these changes, including:

- Speech therapy — the most recommended treatment
- LSVT LOUD program — a specialized therapy focused on speaking louder and more clearly
- Breathing exercises — to strengthen the muscles used for speech
- Assistive devices — like personal amplifiers or the SpeechVive earpiece
- Vocal rest — scheduling quiet time before important conversations

Starting speech treatment early tends to produce better long-term results, so it's worth talking to a doctor or neurologist about a referral to a speech-language pathologist.

July 9

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