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| Innovative Voice Program Available |
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Houston Northwest Medical Center
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Imagine what it would be like to talk, but no one hears you. That is what many people with Parkinson’s disease or other neurological disorders face as their condition progresses. Fortunately, some of these patients at Houston Northwest Medical Center can be heard loud and clear after learning the Lee Silverman voice treatment technique that helps restore oral communication through vocal exercises.
“Many Parkinson’s patients experience a gradual decrease in voice volume and eventually have difficulty articulating their words,” says Michele Perez, speech pathologist at Houston Northwest Medical Center. “They think their voice volume is adequate, but because the disease causes a sensory deficit, others hear only a soft, monotone or hoarse voice. This technique helps them ‘think loud’ by consciously increasing voice volume so others can hear them.”
The Lee Silverman voice treatment was named after the first patient who completed the program. The technique focuses on teaching patients how to improve air movement and vocal cord closure so they can speak at increased volume. Patients begin with single words so the habit of “thinking loud” becomes routine. Training gradually builds up the length and complexity of vocalizations, adding phrases, sentences and reading aloud so the patient can eventually carry on a conversation. The program emphasizes repetition and reinforcement, allowing patients to gain control of their speech and improve voice loudness, articulation and intelligibility.
“Some Parkinson’s patients just stop talking because others can’t hear them,” says Perez. “This technique focuses on one aspect of speech so patients don’t have to repeat themselves, they don’t get breathless when they talk, and they can talk on the phone. It really makes a difference in their quality of life and allows them to participate in social settings and talk with their family at home.”
In addition to treating people with Parkinson’s disease, the technique also may benefit patients with multiple sclerosis, stroke, ataxic dysarthria, aging voice, vocal chord paralysis, and children with cerebral palsy or Down syndrome. Patients enrolled in the program attend 16 one-hour sessions four times per week for one month. Treatment includes at-home exercises that must be completed for an additional hour. The program requires no aftercare and may be covered by insurance. For more information about the Lee Silverman voice treatment program at Houston Northwest Medical Center, call 281-440-2253.
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