Parkinson’s disease

People with Parkinson’s often experience problems with their speech and voice, including speaking quietly even when they feel like they’re speaking at a normal volume.

Speech therapy can help.

Photo of a late middle-aged man smiling with his mouth open.
Icon of a person talking

Speech & voice symptoms

Speaking more quietly. 

Requests to repeat yourself.

People saying you’re too quiet, even when your speech feels normal

Hoarse, breathy, or strained voice that’s slurred or mumbled, making it difficult to understand.

Speech that’s too fast or too slow.

Stuttering or repeating words and phrases.

Icon of a megaphone indicating loudness.
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Other conditions

LSVT LOUD is also sometimes used to treat speech problems related to other neurological conditions, including Lewy body dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy, mutliple system atrophy, cerebral palsy, and others. A thorough speech evaluation can determine the best treatment approach for your specific speech problem.

LSVT LOUD

I am a certified provider of LSVT LOUD, an intensive treatment program with more than 25 years of scientific research behind it. It can be effective for people with Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions. Treatment typically lasts four weeks, with four sessions of speech therapy per week and daily homework assignments. Tune-up sessions can help clients maintain a strong voice over time.

A middle-aged Asian woman with grey and purple hair is doing voice exercises.

There is hope!

Speech therapy can help people with Parkinson’s disease and other conditions be heard and understood.

While speech therapy can be effective for people at all stages of Parkinson’s disease, it’s best to start early, before speech changes get in the way of communicating. 

By focusing on improving communication in everyday life, I help my clients participate in the conversations that are most important to them.

What clients are saying:

  • Lyssa was excellent. She helped me understand the roots of the issues and learn strategies to retain and strengthen function. She is very effective doing the work over Zoom.

    — T, client with Parkinson’s

  • Lyssa’s dedication to and mastery of the LVST LOUD program for speech communications in persons with Parkinson’s is impressive. I always looked forward to our sessions together. She knows her stuff and is fun to work with.

    — C, client with Parkinson’s