Speech & Voice Therapy
Have the confidence to socialize, comfortably video chat with your grandchildren, and have conversations with ease.
Parkinson's disease affects nearly one million people in the United States.
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Changes in a person’s voice, often characterized by a hoarse voice or a soft/quiet voice, is one of the earliest signs of Parkinson’s disease. As Parkinson’s progresses, a person’s voice will continue to become softer and more hoarse and their speech will become less intelligible. Daily activities like conversing with friends and family, ordering in a restaurant, or talking on the phone, can be exhausting and challenging.
What We Offer
At Align Speech Therapy, we offer a two-part speech therapy program (developed by Parkinson Voice Project) to help individuals with Parkinson’s regain and maintain effective communication: SPEAK OUT!® individual therapy followed by an online SPEAK OUT!® group.
Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease who are experiencing any of the following changes with their speech and voice may benefit from therapy. Therapy is recommended as soon as the changes are noted, even if subtle or mild. Early intervention is important to minimize future difficulty.
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Reduced volume
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Hoarse-sounding vocal quality
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Frequent throat clearing
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Trailing off at the end of sentences
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Some days the voice sounds normal; other days it doesn’t
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Decreased intelligibility
SPEAK OUT!® is an evidence-based therapy approach developed by the Parkinson Voice Project that combines education, individual speech therapy, and ongoing group sessions to help people with Parkinson’s improve their speech and voice. This therapy approach, delivered by a trained speech-language pathologist, is proven to improve the strength, loudness, and clarity of a person with Parkinson’s speech and voice. Through specific exercises, the SPEAK OUT!® program teaches people to speak with intent and therefore improve their ability to speak confidently and more effectively. During the therapy program, we work through a series of speech, voice, and cognitive exercises outlined in a SPEAK OUT!® Workbook.
How the SPEAK OUT!® Program Works
SPEAK OUT!® therapy typically consists of 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks however other treatment frequencies may be recommended as appropriate. The program may consist of more sessions depending upon individual progress. Each session lasts 30-40 minutes.
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Daily home practice is recommended and expected in order to achieve optimum and lasting results. A SPEAK OUT!® home program workbook that outlines each exercise is provided by the Parkinson Voice Project at no cost to all participants who participate in speech and voice therapy with a certified SPEAK OUT!® speech-language pathologist.
At Align Speech Therapy, we involve family and care partners throughout the SPEAK OUT!® Parkinson’s speech and voice therapy process. Care partners are invited to participate in a discussion about therapy goals and will receive instruction on how to best support their loved ones, especially with the home practice program. Care partners are invited to view an informational session about Parkinson’s Disease and the SPEAK OUT!® Program, and additional resources will be provided with the caregiver in mind.
SPEAK OUT!® is an adaptable program and can accommodate individuals with memory, auditory, and/or visual impairments. However, an individual must be able to physically and cognitively participate in therapy as well as be able to pay attention for at least 30 minutes. Check out the Parkinson Voice Project website to learn more about this program and to access an abundance of resources. www.parkinsonvoiceproject.org
SPEAK OUT!® From the Comfort of Your Home
At Align Speech Therapy, we are excited to be able to offer SPEAK OUT!® Parkinson’s speech and voice therapy in South Carolina, Arizona, and California via telepractice. This is a convenient and effective option for anyone looking to improve their voice, no matter where they live. From the comfort of your own home, and with no need to travel to a clinic, our speech-language pathologists will provide voice therapy to you on your computer or tablet.
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We are licensed to work with clients in the states of South Carolina, Arizona, and California. Please contact us today to get started or click here to learn more about teletherapy.
​SPEAK OUT!® Therapy is billable under speech therapy services and is covered by Medicare.
