Key points

Some Parkinson’s symptoms are misunderstood because they disrupt nonverbal cues.

Misreading symptoms like facial masking, soft speech, or tremor can lead to stigma and social withdrawal.

When nonverbal signals don’t match expectations, people often assume negative emotions or traits.

You’re watching a speaker at a community event. The topic is interesting, but something about their face seems off. No smiles. No raised brows. No change in expression. You wonder if they’re bored, upset, or just having a bad day. In reality, they might be living with a Parkinson’s symptom called facial masking .

Many health conditions can change how we come across to others. They can shift our facial expression, voice, posture, or movement in ways that have nothing to do with how we actually

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