Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves. It can impact a person’s communication by reducing the volume of their voice and the quality of their speech. It can also make swallowing more difficult. In some cases, Parkinson’s disease may affect thinking skills such as memory and word-finding.
The Arizona State University Speech and Hearing Clinic is proud to be the only SPEAK OUT! Therapy and Research Center in the state of Arizona. We offer the SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program in collaboration with Parkinson Voice Project.
In addition to individual and group therapy, we host cognitive workshops and educational events for people with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners throughout the year. We conduct research to advance our understanding of communication disorders related to Parkinson’s disease.
The SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program, developed by Parkinson Voice Project, helps people with Parkinson’s and related disorders REGAIN and RETAIN their speech and swallowing. The program can improve volume, articulation, breath support for speech, vocal quality, intonation and facial expression. Patients and families also report reduced drooling and improved swallowing. This highly effective, research based treatment combines education, individual and group speech therapy, and daily home practice. The “Circle of INTENT” outlines the various therapy components and emphasizes that this program is lifelong.
