Lee Silverman Voice Treatment for Parkinson's Patients
By Cheryl Cassidy, M.A., CCC-SLP,
Mid-Coast Speech & Hearing Center

Many Parkinson's Disease patients develop speech and voice problems early in the course of their disease. These disorders, along with reduced facial expression, can inhibit PD patients' ability to communicate with friends and family and seriously affect their quality of life. It is estimated that between 85 and 90 percent of individuals with Parkinson's Disease develop voice and speech disorders during the course of their illness.

Research has shown that intensive voice therapy has been effective in improving voice, speech and other orofacial functions. An intensive voice therapy program geared to increase vocal loudness in patients with PD, Lee Silverman Voice Therapy provides help beyond the power of surgery and pharmacological treatments.

This treatment can make a positive impact and empowering patients with Parkinson's disease to take charge of this area of their health and regain their strong voices.

Locally, patients can obtain this therapy in Rockport at Mid-Coast Speech & Hearing Center, a department of Penobscot Bay Medical Center. The LSVT program requires patients to attend four individual speech therapy sessions per week, for four weeks. Patients can access these services with a referral from their physician.

LSVT-trained clinicians have treated more than 30,000 patients worldwide, including but not limited to Parkinson's patients. Research that supports LSVT was funded over two decades by the National Institutes of Health. There are currently 15 people in the state of Maine who hold the LSVT certification

Summer is an excellent time to undertake this treatment program, as there are more daylight hours in which to schedule appointments and there are fewer disruptions to the program due to weather. To learn more about LSVT visit www.lsvt.org

Reach the Mid-Coast Speech & Hearing Center at  (207) 230-6380 .