Originally Posted by Bob Dawson

Paula said:
"I was once a speech pathologist. This isn't going away."
Paula, Did you get a second opinion on that?
Has it been awhile since you were on the other side of the speech pathology divide, helping others for what you yourself now need help with? Maybe there has been new research.

Does anybody out there know?
The devices and apps, yes, but also it would be good to have someone with an overview of speech research and where it is headed.

If there has been any new information or research, it is unlikely to be coming from anything to do with Parkinson's, as speech therapy, for example, would not involve pharmaceuticals, and Parkinson's is still widely defined as a chemical problem requiring a chemical solution, which does not involve the patient beyond swallowing the pills.

But perhaps outside of the Parkinson's game where we all have to chase-our-tails-in-circles, there may have been advances in speech pathology that we have not heard about, because we only find out about Parkinson's.

Is there anyone out there who has a wide awareness of what is going on in the field of speech pathology or therapy? Someone able to say, this worked, this didn't; the research is now looking at what? Especially outside of the Parkinson's Reservation. Is there some other tribe who have found ways to keep on talking? Or is it something that, as Paula says, just ain't going away.

Originally Posted by Bob Dawson

I am serious about this: is there any sense in us all learning sign language? Or would our control of our hands just be the same problem with signing as with typing or writing with pen or pencil?
Most likely i suppose it will be some computerized app whereby a computer speaks for us.
There must be a lot of research somewhere - when some of us get cut off from communication with the human race, I would think that would be looked at somewhere. Or have researchers not noticed yet that there are patterns of people who are obliged to fall silent?
It would behoove the human race to pay some attention to those who get closed off from communication and then from interaction.

Originally Posted by paula_w

This is a surprisingly debilitating condition. No voice volume. Slurred speech. No one can hear me. Some have tried reading my lips when they are visible. It's pervasive. No one can hear me except some on the phone. I"m clear until I hit the 1200 mg amount of sinemet. Then it's stammering, mumbling, and I cannot be heard.

Does anyone know if there is an app to use on your cell phone that is like a portable mic to amplify our voice? not to record but to project like a portable mic people use for public speeches?

This is the most devastating social symptom so far. No Silverman recommendations please. I was once a speech pathologist. This isn't going away. i need adaptive equipment that is in my cell phone.

Originally Posted by RLSmi

What does Stephen Hawking use? Is it something like an enhanced "type-to-talk" version of one of the Dragon tools?
Robert

Originally Posted by BUZZZ

When that happens to me I consiously start almost yelling ( as in trying to speak on a voice recognition phone operater)..biting off my words!!! It seems to work but scares the hell out of some!