Word-finding difficulties in Parkinson’s are as important as speech
Reviewed by Anna Volkmer

Parkinson’s is typically considered to progressively affect speech and voice, with up to 89% of people with the diagnosis experiencing symptoms such as reduced articulatory coordination and a hoarse or breathy voice quality. Despite 80% of people with Parkinson’s experiencing cognitive symptoms, word-finding difficulties and their impact on people’s lives have received less attention. In this study, semi-structured interviews with 15 people with Parkinson’s were analysed using conventional content analysis to understand the lived experience of word-finding difficulties and their effect on everyday communication. Three main categories were identified: 1. Word-finding difficulties have consequences in everyday life (including subcategories such as unpredictability and the impact of conversation partners’ responses); 2. Influencing factors in variable word-finding ability (including subcategories such as medication and impact of mood); and 3. Coping with word-finding difficulties (including subcategories such as acceptance and taking one’s time). To date, speech and language interventions for Parkinson’s have mainly focused on speech, yet results from this study highlight the important role that communication partner training could and should have in supporting people affected by Parkinson’s to engage in conversation.

Lived experiences of word-finding difficulties in individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease: a qualitative interview study.
Saldert C, Almqvist S, Karlsson J.
INT J SPEECH-LANG PATHOL
2026;1–12 [ePub ahead of print].