COPING WITH NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS I.E. PARKINSON’S

DISEASEDarrell 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

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

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

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

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

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:

LEE SILVERMAN VOICE TREATMENT FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE

CHARACTERISTICS OF PD SPEECH

Hypokinetic Dysarthria

Affects both speech and voice

Decreased loudness

Monotone

Breathy voice

Intermittent rapid rushes of speech

Soft consonant production

(Boone & MacFarlane, 2000)

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

FIVE ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS OF LSVT

1. Voice Focus

2. High Effort

3. Intensive Treatment

4. Calibration

5. Quantification

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

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

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."

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