Speech Therapy
Many people who have suffered a stroke or TIA have difficulty with speech and language, memory, or swallowing. Speech Therapy can improve the articulation of speech, word finding, ability to create new memories, and eat and drink safely.
Brain injuries and post concussive syndrome can leave people unable to carry out the normal duties of work and life. Speech Therapy can improve your ability to manage symptoms, relearn lost skills, and return to being an active participant in the world around you.
People with Parkinson’s Disease often find themselves sitting on the sidelines because of a hushed voice and slurred speech. LSVT LOUD has Level 1 evidence as the only treatment that improves the voice and speech of people with Parkinson’s. In addition, LSVT LOUD restores facial expression, intonation, breathing mechanics, and even swallowing.
Many adults find themselves having difficulty swallowing. Sometimes food will get stuck on the way down or drinks may go down the wrong pipe. Speech Therapy can help improve your safety with swallowing through exercises and even electrical stimulation
Voice is such a personal part of communication and a strong, clear voice is important to many aspects of daily function at work and home. Voice Therapy can improve the quality of your voice and the efficiency with which you create it. Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) can impact your ability to breath and is often misdiagnosed as asthma. Voice Therapy for VCD can restore your ability to breath with ease.
It is a myth that nothing can be done to help people with dementia and their loved ones. Much can be done through Speech Therapy at all stages of dementia to improve quality of life, decrease caregiver burden, and even create new memories.
LSVT LOUD® is an effective speech treatment for individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) and other neurological conditions. LSVT LOUD, named for Mrs. Lee Silverman (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment – LSVT) was developed in 1987 and has been scientifically studied for nearly 20 years with funding support from the National Institute for Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) of the National Institutes of Health. Published research data support improvements in vocal loudness, intonation, and voice quality for individuals with PD who received LSVT LOUD, with improvements maintained up to two years after treatment. Recent research studies have also documented the effectiveness of this therapy in improving the common problems of disordered articulation, diminished facial expression and impaired swallowing. Additionally, two brain imaging studies have documented evidence of positive changes in the brain following administration of the therapy.
LSVT LOUD improves vocal loudness by stimulating the muscles of the voice box (larynx) and speech mechanism through a systematic hierarchy of exercises. Focused on a single goal “speak LOUD!” – the treatment improves respiratory, laryngeal and articulatory function to maximize speech intelligibility. The treatment does not train people for shouting or yelling; rather, LSVT LOUD uses loudness training to bring the voice to an improved, healthy vocal loudness with no strain.
Recently principles of LSVT LOUD® were applied to limb movement in people with Parkinson disease (LSVT BIG®) and have been documented to be effective in the short term. Specifically, training increased amplitude of limb and body movement (Bigness) in people with Parkinson disease has documented improvements in amplitude (trunk rotation/gait) that generalized to improved speed (upper/lower limbs), balance, and quality of life. In addition, people were able to maintain these improvements when challenged with a dual task.
Information taken from LSVT Global, www.lsvtglobal.com.