As a slow brain disorder, Parkinson’s causes motor as well as non-motor symptoms that affect the patient’s day-to-day quality of life.

Motor symptoms experienced most commonly by the patients include the stiffness of muscles, shaking, slow movements, and even bad posture or loss of balance with higher chances of falls. Various physical therapy techniques are often beneficial when practiced continuously.

In addition to these debilitating motor symptoms, patients with Parkinson’s also often experience non-motor symptoms such as cognitive impairment, anxiety, and depression, difficulty in swallowing, sleep issues, etc. The patient’s voice, taste, and sense of smell also get affected. The voice becomes hoarse. Alternative healing techniques, including voice therapy, often prove helpful.

Shyam is already practicing Dhrupad music, which teaches how to have control over breath. The music practice itself involves many breathing exercises that help in improving lung capacity necessary for the vocal artists.

Due to Parkinson’s, Shyam’s voice has developed hoarseness, which impacts his singing performance. To deal with these challenges, Shyam is undergoing voice therapy with a trained specialist every week.