Praykinson app helps Thai Parkinson's patients reclaim speech through prayer

A new app from Vajira Hospital is helping Parkinson’s patients rediscover their voice - not through song, but through prayer. Called Praykinson, it transforms spiritual routine into accessible, culturally rooted speech therapy.

Developed in partnership with dentsu Thailand, Praykinson serves as a local solution that goes beyond conventional creative outputs to touch real lives. Approximately one in every 100 elderly Thais are affected by Parkinson’s, a progressive neurological condition that gradually erodes muscle control, movement, and often, the ability to speak clearly.

While treatments exist, many patients face accessibility barriers, especially when therapy feels unfamiliar or disconnected from their daily lives. That’s where Vajira Hospital and dentsu Thailand stepped in - with a solution grounded in cultural insight.

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“With over a century of serving the Thai people, we understand how meaningful it is for care to be both clinically sound and culturally familiar,” said Thanatat Boonmongkol, neurologist and Parkinson’s disease specialist at Vajira Hospital. “That’s why Praykinson holds such promise. By integrating the practice of prayer into speech therapy, it offers patients a way to manage their symptoms in a setting that feels natural and comforting. We’re optimistic about its role in improving everyday quality of life for patients across Thailand.”

While music and singing are often recommended for vocal therapy, these approaches aren’t embedded in the everyday habits of many elderly Thais. Prayer, however, is. With data showing that 75.9% of Thais engage in daily prayer, the team saw an opportunity to design an app that turns this spiritual habit into a structured form of voice exercise - intuitive, accessible, and comforting.

The app features faith-based prayer selections, a real-time EQ bar for vocal control, colour-coded cues to guide tempo and pace, and a progress score at the end of each session. Users also receive daily reminders to help sustain their therapy routines.

“At dentsu, we always aim to create work that resonates on a human level, work that understands and reflects the cultural fabric of our society,” said Krissda Kanittasoontorn, creative director, dentsu Creative Thailand. “Praykinson began with a deep respect for Thailand’s spiritual traditions and the emotional realities of living with Parkinson’s. From insight to execution, every step was rooted in empathy.”

The app is expected to expand with additional content - including prayers from different faiths and secular options - ensuring that its reach transcends religious boundaries while staying true to its mission: helping patients find their voice again.

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