Voice Therapy for Parkinson's Disease
Lee Silverman Voice Therapy LSVT® LOUD improves vocal loudness by stimulating the muscles of the voice box (larynx) and speech mechanism through a systematic hierarchy of exercises. Focused on a single goal - "speak LOUD!" - the treatment improves respiratory, laryngeal and articulatory function to maximize speech intelligibility. It does not train people for shouting or yelling; rather, the treatment uses loudness training to bring the voice to an improved, healthy vocal loudness level with no strain.
Patients are trained to self-generate (that is, internally cue) the adequate amount of loudness to make their speech understood. While LSVT® LOUD has been successfully administered to individuals in all stages of Parkinson's disease, it has been most effective among those who are in the early or middle stages of the condition.
