• Reduced volume
• Hoarse-sounding vocal quality
• Frequent throat clearing
• Trailing off at the end of sentences
• Some days the voice sounds normal; other days it doesn’t.

If someone with Parkinson’s is experiencing any of the speech difficulties listed above, an evaluation with a speech-language pathologist trained in the SPEAK OUT!^® treatment method (a SPEAK OUT!^® Provider) is recommended. Since the muscles used for speaking are the same used for swallowing, early intervention is important to minimize future swallowing difficulties. Parkinson’s patients who complete SPEAK OUT!^® typically experience improvement in a matter of days. Why wait?

Speaking and swallowing are highly-automatic behaviors.  When we speak, we don’t think about taking air into our lungs, contracting our diaphragm, or moving our vocal folds, tongue or lips; it all happens automatically. It’s the same for swallowing; it’s an automatic behavior.

Dopamine facilitates automatic movements. However, in Parkinson's, there is a considerable loss of dopamine.  With less dopamine, automatic movements are disrupted, which can contribute to speech and swallowing difficulties. 

When we speak with intent or deliberation, we are using a system in the brain that is less dependent on dopamine.  This is why people with Parkinson's can improve their speaking abilities. As patients go through SPEAK OUT!^®, they not only learn to “speak with intent,” but they also learn to “live with intent.”

The only “catch” is that there is a specific treatment protocol that should be followed in order for people with Parkinson’s to receive similar results to those who are treated at Parkinson Voice Project:  

• 
   • Seek treatment from a speech-language pathologist who has completed formal SPEAK OUT!^® training through Parkinson Voice Project (a SPEAK OUT!^® Provider).
  
• 
   • At Parkinson Voice Project, patients typically receive three SPEAK OUT!^® sessions a week for four weeks.
  
• 
   • Complete one lesson in the SPEAK OUT!^® Workbook twice a day for twenty-five days.
  
• 
   • Upon completion of SPEAK OUT!^®, complete one lesson from the SPEAK OUT!^® Workbook daily. In addition, participate in a weekly LOUD Crowd^® group to maintain the improvements made in therapy.

If you have a Parkinson’s-related diagnosis and are being treated by a SPEAK OUT!^® Provider, you can receive a SPEAK OUT!^® Workbook as a gift from Parkinson Voice Project.  

There is a charge for shipping workbooks outside of the United States.  Call Parkinson Voice Project at 833-375-6500 to order your workbook.

Speech-language pathologists who have been trained by Parkinson Voice Project are listed on our website.  Click here to locate a SPEAK OUT!^® provider.

Speech-language pathologists who also offer LOUD Crowd^® groups are designated by this symbol.

Parkinson Voice Project awards grants to speech therapy clinics that want to bring our SPEAK OUT!^® and LOUD Crowd^® program to their area.  The next grant cycle will begin in January 2020.  Email grants@ParkinsonVoiceProject.org.