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Video: Special choir uses music to fight back against Parkinson's disease

Video: Special choir uses music to fight back against Parkinson's disease
It's show time for the park and sings choir *** night to bond and let loose because Parkinson's has *** way of putting life on hold. It's affected my life in so many different ways. It is *** struggle. The body begins its betrayal. Even talking takes work. If your voice starts to collapse within itself, you hear it but nobody else can. So it's very important to speak with intent in everything that you do. Singing can help sometimes even improve speech for Parkinson's exercises, medicine. So doing things like singing like speech therapy and voice therapy. Those are all really important. The group has been going about four years with weekly practices. You can tell by the songs. The theme tonight is togetherness. Mixing in *** little comedy. Everyone deals with it differently as the symptoms hit people differently. But here they all relate. I fell down last night or I wanted to say *** word and the word wouldn't come out. I was calling the stove of the refrigerator and these people understand, I don't feel embarrassed. She used to be *** lawyer and says diagnosis almost 10 years ago, this has helped her confidence in *** way, forcing her to appreciate moments like this. I'm doing things I never would have even dreamed of. I'm singing here in *** concert with people. I'm *** shower singer. I can't believe that I'm out of the shower singing.
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Updated: 10:19 PM CDT Apr 20, 2023
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Video: Special choir uses music to fight back against Parkinson's disease
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Updated: 10:19 PM CDT Apr 20, 2023
Editorial Standards
Doctors have been researching treatments for Parkinson's disease for years. A choir in New Jersey — the ParkinSings Choir — is joining together to fight it through music. Numerous choir members told News 12 New Jersey how the choir has helped them through dark days with the disease."It affected my life in so many different ways," choir member Pat Dunstan said. "It is a struggle."For the past four years, the ParkinSings choir has gathered for weekly practices in an environment full of hope and a little fun.Watch the video above to get a closer look at the ParkinSings choir.Along with the music, the choir joins people together who can relate to one another and share."I fell down last night. Or I wanted to say a word and the word wouldn't come out. I was calling the stove the fridge. And these people understand. I don't feel embarrassed," Dunstan said. As the disease progresses, many people with Parkinson's disease say even talking can become difficult. "If your voice starts to collapse within itself, you hear it, but nobody else can, so it's very important to speak with intent in everything that you do," said choir member Barry Gould.A speech pathologist said it's actually proven that singing can help and sometimes even improve speech for patients with Parkinson's disease. "For Parkinson's, exercise is medicine so doing things like singing, like speech therapy and voice therapy, those are all really important," said Aly Chananie, a speech pathologist with JFK Johnson Rehab. Along with the physical benefits of the choir, some members say the choir has helped them emotionally as well. "I'm doing things I've never even dreamed of," Dunstan said. "I'm singing here in concert with people. I'm a shower singer. I can't believe I'm out of the shower singing."

Doctors have been researching treatments for Parkinson's disease for years.

A choir in New Jersey — the ParkinSings Choir — is joining together to fight it through music.

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Numerous choir members how the choir has helped them through dark days with the disease.

"It affected my life in so many different ways," choir member Pat Dunstan said. "It is a struggle."

For the past four years, the ParkinSings choir has gathered for weekly practices in an environment full of hope and a little fun.

Watch the video above to get a closer look at the ParkinSings choir.

Along with the music, the choir joins people together who can relate to one another and share.

"I fell down last night. Or I wanted to say a word and the word wouldn't come out. I was calling the stove the fridge. And these people understand. I don't feel embarrassed," Dunstan said.

As the disease progresses, many people with Parkinson's disease say even talking can become difficult.

"If your voice starts to collapse within itself, you hear it, but nobody else can, so it's very important to speak with intent in everything that you do," said choir member Barry Gould.

A speech pathologist said it's actually proven that singing can help and sometimes even improve speech for patients with Parkinson's disease.

"For Parkinson's, exercise is medicine so doing things like singing, like speech therapy and voice therapy, those are all really important," said Aly Chananie, a speech pathologist with JFK Johnson Rehab.

Along with the physical benefits of the choir, some members say the choir has helped them emotionally as well.

"I'm doing things I've never even dreamed of," Dunstan said. "I'm singing here in concert with people. I'm a shower singer. I can't believe I'm out of the shower singing."