Stephen Hawking has made a heartfelt plea to stop fellow motor neurone sufferers dying without a voice . The world ’ s most famous scientist said losing the capacity to communicate is one of the most frightening challenges faced by people with motor neurone disease . Yet campaigners fear many funding gaps throughout Britain mean many sufferers fail to get the help they deserve . Some have been waiting months , when they rely on loved ones to interpret their needs , but others die first . Physicist Hawking , whose inspiring story is the subject of the Oscar-winning biopic The Theory of Everything starring Eddie Redmayne , lost the ability to speak in 1985 . Stephen Hawking said not being able to communicate is 'one of the most frightening and isolating aspects of living with motor neurone disease ' . He has made a plea to ensure other sufferers do not die without a voice . He now talks through a speech synthesiser with a distinctive electronic voice recognised globally . He said ‘ I am a Patron of the Motor Neurone Disease Association . ‘ Their campaign `` Don ’ t Let Me Die Without A Voice '' highlights how not being able to communicate is one of the most frightening and isolating aspects of living with motor neurone disease ( MND ) . ‘ Everyone with MND should be able to access speech and language therapy and the range of communication equipment technology which is out there . No one should die without a voice. ’ Figures show at least two out of five MND patients wait more than six weeks to get the communication equipment they need , which can range from simple alphabet charts and speech therapy to high-tech support such as text-to-speech devices , eye gaze systems and voice-banking . Between 80-95 per cent of people living with MND experience some loss of speech before they die . The weakening of muscles in lip and tongue , vocal chords and chest contribute to deterioration in the ability to speak and swallow . Up to 5,000 people are living with MND at any time but 30 per cent die within a year of diagnosis , and over 50 per cent within two years . The scientist , whose inspiring story is the subject of the Oscar-winning biopic The Theory of Everything for which Eddie Redmayne won an Oscar , lost the ability to speak in 1985 . The rapidly progressive nature of the disease can result in patients dying even while waiting for the initial assessment of their needs . Currently the NHS funds communication aids for fewer than half the people with MND who need them , according to an investigation by MPs from the All Party Parliamentary Group on MND . As part of the 2012 NHS reforms , the Coalition Government identified that NHS England had a duty to provide communications support and equipment for people living with MND . However , the change to specialised commissioning in 2013 which should result in high- quality services across the country has resulted in catastrophic failure for people with MND , said Karen Pearce from the MND Association . She said : ‘ People with motor neurone disease are having grave problems accessing the funding that is meant to be available for communication support in England . ‘ Despite pockets of excellence , people with MND and health professionals tell us that speech and language therapy support services are also poor in too many areas , for example , in Surrey , Sussex , Birmingham , Worcestershire and West Yorkshire. ’ ‘ We know that in some cases people have waited months to access communications support and died without a voice ’ added Chris James , of the MND Association . Building manager Liam Dwyer , 51 , who was diagnosed with MND in 2005 , has been waiting since last July for a speech and language therapy assessment . The father of a 21-year-old son , he lives in Surrey with wife Anna , who enables him to tell the world of his plight . He said : ‘ It is hard enough being trapped in a failing body but not being able to communicate is one of the most frightening and isolating aspects of this disease . ‘ Everyone with MND should be able to access speech and language therapy and the range of communication equipment technology which is out there . No one should die without a voice. ’ A delegation of experts is to meet Liberal Democrat health minister Norman Lamb tomorrow asking him to take action over delays for people with MND in accessing communications support and equipment .
Physicist Hawking , who sufferers the disease , lost ability to speak in 1985 . Said it was 'one of the most frightening and isolating ' aspects of illness . Campaigners fear many patients die before getting the help they need . Many wait months for communication equipment , relying on family to interpret their needs , but others die first . Vital equipment includes alphabet charts , speech therapy as well as high-tech speech devices , eye gaze systems and voice-banking . 5,000 people are living with the disease - 30 % die within year of diagnosis .