What is SPEAK OUT!?
SPEAK OUT! is a therapy regimen tailored to people with Parkinson’s disease to improve their voicing, and in turn, their swallowing. In this program, speech is transformed from an automatic function to an intentional task. SPEAK OUT! is usually completed in 8 sessions spanning four weeks, and then the client transitions to group therapy. In this four-week span, clients report improvement in their speaking, their ability to be heard, and their overall quality of life.
SPEAK OUT! groups meet once weekly. The sessions provide maintenance for skills obtained during individual SPEAK OUT! therapy and are a source of camaraderie for the members. Marshall University Speech and Hearing Center offers SPEAK OUT! individual and group therapies at no cost to clients through a grant from the Parkinson Voice Project.
The SPEAK OUT! therapy regimen was developed at Parkinson Voice Project in Richardson, TX. You can visit their website HERE.
When and where can I receive services?
SPEAK OUT! individual and group therapies are offered every Tuesday and Thursday. All sessions occur at Marshall University Speech and Hearing Center or can be virtual through telehealth.
I have Parkinson’s disease. When should I begin seeing a speech therapist?
According to studies, up to 89% of people with Parkinson’s disease develop difficulty communicating and up to 95% develop difficulty swallowing. To postpone and prevent this decline, it is optimal to begin speech therapy as soon as possible. Participation in SPEAK OUT! can change the effects that Parkinson’s disease has on your voice. Muscles become weak because they are not used to their full capacity, not because Parkinson’s is making them weak. SPEAK OUT! requires you to use the muscles for speaking and swallowing to their full potential to prevent decline.
What costs are associated with these services?
MUSHC is proud to partner with the Parkinson Voice Project to provide SPEAK OUT! services at no cost to the client. You will not be billed for these services.
