Parkinson’s • Speech Clarity
How to Improve Speech Clarity After Parkinson’s Diagnosis
Parkinson’s can affect breath support, loudness, articulation, and pacing. The good news: small, consistent practice—plus timely feedback—can noticeably improve clarity.
Why speech clarity changes
Common factors include reduced respiratory drive (softer voice), reduced range of movement in lips/tongue/jaw (mumbled consonants), and changes to prosody (flat or rushed speech). Recognizing your personal pattern helps target the right exercises.
Five simple exercises to try
- Breath + Loud “Ah” (10 reps): Inhale through the nose, then say a steady “Ah” aiming for a comfortable loudness. Focus on steady airflow.
- Over-articulation drills (2 min): Exaggerate consonants in short phrases: “Big bag,” “Tee time,” “Keep cups.”
- Rate control with finger taps (1–2 min): Read a line per tap. This slows rushing and improves clarity.
- Pitch glides (10 reps): Glide from low to high and back on “mmm” to improve prosody and vocal flexibility.
- Daily phrase practice (1–3 min): Pick 3 everyday sentences you use and practice with clear, loud, slow delivery.
How technology can help (without replacing therapy)
Real-time feedback reinforces good habits. Tools that estimate loudness and clarity help you self-check: “Was that loud enough? Were consonants crisp?” Our mini app offers instant scores with cues; the full platform tracks progress and can connect to an SLP for tailored programs.
Build a repeatable routine
- Practice 5–10 minutes daily at the same time.
- Use visibility: a mirror, or the app’s live meter, to keep loudness steady.
- Record one sentence per day and compare weekly.
- Bring your scores to your clinician to adjust goals.