Parkinson’s disease causes problems in speech, tremors in hands, unintentional body movements due to rigidity of muscles. The disease affects the nerve cells which produce dopamine, thus leading to altered body conditions. After a thorough diagnosis, treatments can be done to lower the extent of this problem but there are no solutions to cure it permanently.
Evaluation Scale
A Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale is used to evaluate the conditions of those suffering from it. The rating scale varies between 0 and 4. 0 represents a normal condition whereas 4 shows an extreme case.
Stages of Evaluation
There are several stages of evaluation which we have discussed, in details, below:
Stage 1
This is the most humble stage of the evaluation. At this stage, the mood, mental abilities, and general behavior of the test patient are studied. Swings in mood or deterioration of mental abilities could represent the presence of disease.
Stage 2
In the second phase, the test patient is required to evaluate changes in behavior and general gait, himself. Any abnormalities in the normal activities could be a representation of Parkinson’s. You should immediately rush to your doctor if you find a change in any of these activities;
• Speech: If you feel rigidity in facial muscle while speaking then this could a symptom.
• Writing: Hands undergoing tremors while writing or even at rest could be a sign that you have Parkinson’s.
• Walking: If you face trouble with walking then you should consult your doctor and get thoroughly evaluated.
• Similarly, if you have issues when changing clothes or eating food, then get yourself diagnosed.
Stage 3
The third stage of evaluation involves ‘Clinically Monitored Evaluation’. In this phase, expert advice is brought into practice. You’re required to get yourself evaluated by a professional doctor. If prescribed, you move on the 4th stage which involves motor examinations.
Stage 4
In the fourth stage, Hoehn and Yahr’s procedure is carried out for thorough evaluation of your body using motor examinations processes. Deep studies are made regarding your body movements and responses.
• Speech: You are required to read scripts or do the general talking for this process. The movement of your face is evaluated during the speech. The extent of the problem is calculated by measuring the extent of problems you face while talking.
• Face at rest: Apart from speech, the conditions of your face are diagnosed when at rest as well. If you’re suffering from the problem, your face will suffer tremors or rigidity.
• Hand Movement: You are asked to open and close your hand in rapid successions. Those suffering from the disease will have issues doing this.
• Leg Agility: You’re required to tap your feet on the ground for several times. Fatiguing doing this, arresting of your feet, and other impairments tell about the extent of the disease.
Apart from these, there are multiple other tests which are carried in the fourth stage of evaluation. If you have any of these symptoms, then you will be required to take medication to reduce the extent of effects of this disease on your body.
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