Drooling in Parkinson’s is associated with less frequent and inefficient swallowing, resulting in a build-up of saliva in the mouth that then moves beyond the lips. It often causes discomfort as the skin becomes sore, and results in embarrassment. The main pharmacological treatment is Botox injections into the salivary glands or less researched behavioural approaches, such as cuing devices or expiratory muscle strength training. This qualitative interview study aimed to explore the experiences of people with Parkinson’s who drool. Eleven people with Parkinsons with a mean age of 71.9 years were interviewed using an interview guide that explored components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health model. Results highlighted two themes in relation to what made drooling worse, three themes that related to impact of drooling and three themes that related to treatment of drooling. Participants identified a range of factors that made their drooling worse, some of which had previously been reported in the literature, such as a stooped posture, feeling tired and medication ‘off’ periods, but new issues were also reported including feeling stressed, panicked, thirsty and unwell. Importantly, the authors emphasise that speech and language therapists may have an untapped role in supporting people to explore a range of more convenient strategies to support their saliva management.
Drooling: what is it like to be unable to manage your own saliva?
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