How speech pathology supports communication for people living with motor neurone disease
Motor neurone disease (MND) brings many changes, and one of the most significant is its impact on a person’s ability to speak and communicate. As the muscles involved in speech weaken, people may notice changes in clarity, volume, pace, or their ability to articulate words.
Everyone’s experience with MND is unique, and communication changes may unfold at different rates. Early support from a Speech Pathologist gives people the chance to prepare, learn what to expect and build strategies that help preserve communication for as long as possible.
How can speech pathology help?
At MSWA, our team of experienced Speech Pathologists provide assessments and therapy for people presenting with a wide range of communication difficulties, across all levels of severity. For individuals living with MND, speech pathology can play a powerful role in helping people maintain their independence and identity as their communication abilities change.
Some ways our Speech Pathologists can help, include:
Voice and message banking
Voice and message banking gives individuals the opportunity to preserve aspects of their natural voice for future use when verbal speech is difficult. These recordings are then used to create a personalised synthetic voice that can later be integrated into communication devices.
- Voice banking involves recording a series of speech samples that are used to create a personalised synthetic voice.
- Message banking involves recording meaningful or frequently used phrases, such as personal expressions, jokes or greetings in your own voice.
This process ensures that if speech becomes more challenging over time, individuals can continue to use their voice in the absence of verbal speech.
Our MSWA Speech Pathologists can guide you through the voice and message banking process by helping you choose the most suitable platform, supporting you with recording high-quality samples, and assisting with the setup of your banked voice within communication apps or devices.
Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC)
If speech becomes increasingly difficult, our Speech Pathologists can also assist with exploring and trialling AAC options. These may include:
- Low-tech supports: such as communication books and alphabet boards.
- High-tech supports: such as communication apps, speech generating devices and eye gaze devices for hands free communication.
We provide guidance, programming, and ongoing support to ensure your chosen AAC is functional and suited to your communication needs.
We are here for you
We understand that every person’s communication needs, goals, and progression with MND are unique. Our team is committed to providing evidence based and individualised care.
We offer:
- Individualised communication assessments tailored to your needs.
- Therapy sessions that focus on functional and meaningful communication goals.
- Support with selecting, trialling and using assistive communication technology, ensuring your chosen device is functional and suited to your communication needs.
- Support with voice banking and message banking, guiding you through the process of preserving your voice and integrating your banked voice into communication devices.
- Education and support for family members and carers, equipping them with strategies to enhance communication at home and in daily routines.
Whether you are newly diagnosed or have noticed changes to your communication over time, we are here to support you at every stage of your journey with MND. Our goal is to help you maintain independence, stay connected with those around you, and help support you in maintaining your communication abilities.
