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Coping with Nervous System Disorders i.e. Parkinson’s Disease

Coping with Nervous System Disorders i.e. Parkinson’s Disease. Darrell D. Anderson Retired CEO, National Swine Registry. Brief Background . Born and raised on livestock farm in SW Minn South Dakota State University – BS Animal Sci Cottonwood County Extension Director – 5 yrs

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Coping with Nervous System Disorders i.e. Parkinson’s Disease

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  1. Coping with Nervous System Disorders i.e. Parkinson’s Disease Darrell D. Anderson Retired CEO, National Swine Registry

  2. Brief Background • Born and raised on livestock farm in SW Minn • South Dakota State University – BS Animal Sci • Cottonwood County Extension Director – 5 yrs • Auctioneer for many top llama & alpaca sales • Spent 25 years at AYC/NSR breed associations • Diagnosed with Parkinson Disease - Aug, 2003 • Life changed dramatically – family & staff • Ultimately placed on medical leave July, 2011

  3. So what is Parkinson disease? • PD is a complex neurodegenerative disease that affects the central nervous system • Second most common neurodegenerative disease behind Alzheimer’s Disease • Is not easily diagnosed, as there is no definitive test for it • Affects approximately 1 - 2% of adults over the age of 60 • Equally distributed between men & women • Anatomically PD is localized at the base of the brain • Deterioration leads to insufficient production of Dopamine • Electrical signals are disrupted resulting in impairment of the functionality of multiple organs and systems

  4. Early Diagnosis essential • Personal example – slight tremor in right hand. Finally agreed to go see a neurologist at the “urging” of my wife • Jokingly told the doctor, “I just wanted to be sure I don’t have Parkinson Disease.” • Twenty minutes later she informed that I did indeed have Parkinson Disease and my life changed from that moment • Immediate response was one of uncertainty and questions • There were no known genetic ties and often aren’t • Prominent cause of PD is not widely known yet • Is thought to be more prevalent in agricultural industry

  5. Symptoms Vary and may go unrecognized for years • Asymmetric stiffness or weakness of extremities • Tremor at rest of a hand or foot - loss of dexterity • Unsteadiness of gait, rigidity & slowness in movement • Loss of balance • Weakening of voice in both clarity and volume • Chronic and progressive - symptoms always exist and always worsen over time • The rate of progression varies from person to person • Is not fatal - mortality is usually result of secondary complications

  6. Coping with one symptom • Auctioneering concerns stemmed from voice weakening • I began researching the web for possible advances in treatment of this particular symptom of PD • Stumbled across the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) – actually developed at Purdue University • Consulted with PD neurologist – he had heard about it, but knew very little about it • Pursued and discovered the following:

  7. Lee Silverman Voice Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease

  8. Characteristics of PD Speech HypokineticDysarthria • Affects both speech and voice • Decreased loudness • Monotone • Breathy voice • Intermittent rapid rushes of speech • Soft consonant production (Boone & MacFarlane, 2000)

  9. LSVT OVERVIEW • Goal: To teach the patient with PD to improve functional intelligible oral communication by increasing vocal loudness • Method: train high phonatory effort tasks which stimulate increased vocal fold adduction and respiratory support and have an immediate impact on functional intelligible speech

  10. Five essential concepts of LSVT • Voice Focus • High Effort • Intensive Treatment • Calibration • Quantification

  11. Personal Experience - LSvT • After initial training by Purdue staff, voice clarity and volume improved significantly • Practice, practice, practice proved to yield good results • When devoting daily practice to the techniques, it allowed me to conduct very successful auctions – many four to five hours in duration • But one example of searching out and pursuing relatively little known treatment for one PD symptom

  12. Other ramifications of PD…. • When you are diagnosed, your spouse also has the disease • If not careful, depression can become a major issue • Unknown progression of the disease is very concerning • Friends and co-workers may have a variety of reactions to the news of your disease • Quality of life is reduced not only for you but also family members that become care-givers

  13. Personal words of advice • Early diagnosis is a key to effective treatment • Pursue all possible types of treatments, including LSVT, physical therapy to address strength and balance issues • Be aware of side effects of drugs prescribed for treatment – many have serious addictive behavioral side effects, etc • Be sensitive to reactions from family, friends & staff • "Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can."

  14. Final advice from the “Source” • Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand

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