I.E.
Darrell D. Anderson
Retired CEO, National Swine Registry


Born and raised on livestock farm in SW Minn
 South Dakota State University – BS Animal Sci

Cottonwood County Extension Director – 5 yrs
 Auctioneer for many top llama & alpaca sales

Spent 25 years at AYC/NSR breed associations
 Diagnosed with Parkinson Disease - Aug, 2003
 Life changed dramatically – family & staff
 Ultimately placed on medical leave July, 2011

 PD is a complex neurodegenerative disease that affects the central nervous system

Second most common neurodegenerative disease behind
Alzheimer’s Disease

Is not easily diagnosed, as there is no definitive test for it

Affects approximately 1 - 2% of adults over the age of 60

Equally distributed between men & women

Anatomically PD is localized at the base of the brain

Deterioration leads to insufficient production of Dopamine
 Electrical signals are disrupted resulting in impairment of the functionality of multiple organs and systems


Personal example – slight tremor in right hand. Finally agreed to go see a neurologist at the “urging” of my wife
 Jokingly told the doctor, “I just wanted to be sure I don’t have Parkinson Disease.”

Twenty minutes later she informed that I did indeed have
Parkinson Disease and my life changed from that moment
 Immediate response was one of uncertainty and questions
 There were no known genetic ties and often aren’t
 Prominent cause of PD is not widely known yet

Is thought to be more prevalent in agricultural industry


Asymmetric stiffness or weakness of extremities
 Tremor at rest of a hand or foot - loss of dexterity
 Unsteadiness of gait, rigidity & slowness in movement

Loss of balance

Weakening of voice in both clarity and volume
 Chronic and progressive - symptoms always exist and always worsen over time
 The rate of progression varies from person to person

Is not fatal - mortality is usually result of secondary complications


Auctioneering concerns stemmed from voice weakening
 I began researching the web for possible advances in treatment of this particular symptom of PD

Stumbled across the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment
(LSVT) – actually developed at Purdue University
 Consulted with PD neurologist – he had heard about it, but knew very little about it
 Pursued and discovered the following:

Hypokinetic Dysarthria

Affects both speech and voice

Decreased loudness

Monotone

Breathy voice

Intermittent rapid rushes of speech

Soft consonant production
(Boone & MacFarlane, 2000)

 Goal: To teach the patient with PD to improve functional intelligible oral communication by increasing vocal loudness
 Method: train high phonatory effort tasks which stimulate increased vocal fold adduction and respiratory support and have an immediate impact on functional intelligible speech

1.
Voice Focus
2.
High Effort
3.
Intensive Treatment
4.
Calibration
5.
Quantification


After initial training by Purdue staff, voice clarity and volume improved significantly
 Practice, practice, practice proved to yield good results

When devoting daily practice to the techniques, it allowed me to conduct very successful auctions – many four to five hours in duration
 But one example of searching out and pursuing relatively little known treatment for one PD symptom

 When you are diagnosed, your spouse also has the disease

If not careful, depression can become a major issue
 Unknown progression of the disease is very concerning

Friends and co-workers may have a variety of reactions to the news of your disease
 Quality of life is reduced not only for you but also family members that become care-givers


Early diagnosis is a key to effective treatment
 Pursue all possible types of treatments, including LSVT, physical therapy to address strength and balance issues

Be aware of side effects of drugs prescribed for treatment
– many have serious addictive behavioral side effects, etc
 Be sensitive to reactions from family, friends & staff

"Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can."


Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your
God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand