SPEAK OUT®! Therapy

Intention can change everything! 

Did you know 90% of people with Parkinson’s are at risk of developing a weak voice? This weakness can lead to life-threatening swallowing complications and significant difficulties in communicating with their loved ones. 

To address this, the Parkinson Voice Project developed SPEAK OUT! This program provides a unique treatment approach to aid people living with Parkinson’s and Parkinson-isms in regaining and retaining their speech and communication functions while minimizing swallowing issues. Several years ago, I became a trained provider while working in a skilled nursing facility. My absolute favorite moment with every patient is when they can hear their voice again. 

of people with Parkinson's are at risk of developing a weak voice
SPEAK OUT! is based on principles of motor learning and teachings of Daniel R. Boone, PhD, CCC-SLP. With the SPEAK OUT! program, people living with Parkinson’s learn to convert what they have to say from an automatic function to an intentional act. This program also combines the importance of education, individual interventions, and structured daily home practice to help my clients continue to utilize what they have learned in multiple environments.

Once a clinet has completed individual Speech Therapy whihc provides direct feedback for each client's individual needs, they can join group based SPEAK OUT! sessions to maintain their progress and continue practiving thier use of intention in a variety of conversational settings. (Group sessions coming soon.) 
       
Extrapyramidal System
     
Pyramidal System

A visual of how SPEAK OUT! therapy works in the brain

For people who have Parkinson's or a Parkinson-ism, the signal from the brain to the muscles that produce speech can get stuck along the way. By using intent when speaking, we give the brain a different route to follow. This route (the prymidal tract), doesn't have so many stops and doesn't depended on dopamine... a brain chemical that can be in short supply for those living with Parkinson's.
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Weekly Singalong via Parkinson Voice Project

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Like the Sing Along replay above, there are many resources and educational oppratunities on the Parkinson Voice Project website. Use the links below to explore more about SPEAK OUT! Therapy and Parkinsons Disease.
Daily SPEAK OUT! practice sessions. 
                  Monday - Friday at 10 am Central time (11 am EST)

Weekly Parkinson's Sing Alongs 
                  Thursdays at 10:30 am Central Time (11:30 EST)

Learn About Parkinsons Webinar

Parkinson's Lecture Series

SPEAK OUT! Research

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