Doença de Parkinson: manifestações fonoaudiológicas

Abstract

This is a study based on the voice, speech and swallowing disturbances related to Parkinson’s disease, which is one of the most frequents neurodegenerative diseases, touching over 4 million people all over the world nowadays. Its main symptoms include the tremor, the rigidity and the bradykinesia, even though other associated manifestation can be found; among these, voice, speech and swallowing disturbances occur very frequently. It’s important to emphasize this study was realized with the aim to review the specialized literature about this disease, focusing its neurological aspects and the symptoms related to voice, speech and swallowing alterations, once these disturbances have not being widely studied neither divulged between speech and language therapists. Something also remarkable to state is that the review was not systematic, realized in different data basis and other sources, such as textbooks, article of periodicals, handbooks and specialized Internet pages. The obtained data in the present review let us to conclude the following: the Parkinson’s disease is one of the most frequents neurodegenerative diseases and is characterized by tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia; the occurrence of voice, speech and swallowing disturbances is elevated and demands treatment with specific purpose and objectifies to improve the communication as well the alimentation of the patient providing him/her a better life quality; besides the medical treatment, other therapeutic approaches should be realized, among them, speech therapy, phisioterapy and psychological therapy.