Parkinson Voice Project
Nine out of ten people with Parkinson's
are at risk of developing a weak voice
that can lead to serious speech and
swallowing issues.
SPEAK OUT!® & The LOUD Crowd® is a therapy approach developed by Parkinson Voice Project that combines education, individual speech therapy, and ongoing group sessions to help people with Parkinson's improve their speech and voice. The program is based on principles of motor learning and teachings of the late Daniel R. Boone who first recognized that individuals with Parkinson's could markedly improve their speaking abilities if they transitioned speech from an automatic function to an intentional act.
At Reid Health Rehabilition Services, a speech language pathologist (SLP) leads the patients in speech, voice and cognitive exercises designed to encourage individuals with Parkinson's Disease to 'Speak with Intent'. This means training patients to use deliberate intention when speaking vs. relying on diminishing automatic motor behaviors (secondary to the neural degeneration occurring in the disease process). This is an effective, motivating and highly rewarding therapy technique.
SPEAK OUT!® is designed as a 12-session voice therapy program, along with intensive home practice. A detailed practice manual will be provided free of charge by Parkinson Voice Program, once you are enrolled in our
SPEAK OUT!® program. After completing the SPEAK OUT!® program, you can enroll in The LOUD Crowd® group practice program (availability based on enrollment), to help reinforce and maintain the skills you have learned.
SPEAK OUT!®
SPEAK OUT!® typically consists of twelve individual speech therapy sessions. Together, the patient and speech language pathologist complete speech, voice, and cognitive exercises using a specialized workbook Reid Health provides to every SPEAK OUT!® patient. The program emphasizes speaking with intent and converts speech from an automatic function to an intentional act. Upon completion of SPEAK OUT!®, patients transition to the LOUD Crowd®.
WHAT DOES A SPEAK OUT!® SESSION LOOK LIKE?
Warm Up Exercises (Sustained Phonation Exercises, Pitch Glides, Numerical Sequences)
Reading Material Hierarchy (Words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs of gradually increasing length and complexity)
Cognitive Exercise (Thinking + loudness - patients often feel this is the most rewarding component)
Discussion (How will you Speak with Intent today? More carryover, planning and self-monitoring)
The LOUD Crowd®
The LOUD Crowd®
Due to the progressive nature of Parkinson's, daily home practice and ongoing follow-up is necessary. The LOUD Crowd® consists of weekly group sessions where SPEAK OUT!® exercises are performed and participants practice speaking with intent. The LOUD Crowd® provides accountability, camaraderie, education and support.