Now Offering SPEAK OUT!® Therapy for People with Parkinson’s Disease
I am excited to share that I am now a Certified SPEAK OUT!® Provider through Parkinson Voice Project!
SPEAK OUT! is a specialized speech therapy program developed specifically for people with Parkinson’s disease. The program is designed to help individuals regain and retain their ability to communicate by learning to speak with INTENT.
How Does Parkinson’s Disease Affect Speech?
Parkinson’s disease can affect the strength, speed, and coordination of the movements needed for speech. Over time, a person’s voice may become quieter, weaker, raspy, breathy, or more monotone. Speech may also become faster, mumbled, or difficult for others to understand.
Common speech and voice changes associated with Parkinson’s disease include:
Reduced vocal volume, also called hypophonia
Mumbled or unclear speech
A raspy, breathy, or weak voice
Speaking too quickly
Reduced facial expression
Less variation in pitch or tone
Difficulty being heard in groups or noisy environments
Frequently being asked to repeat yourself
Feeling as though you are speaking loudly when others still have difficulty hearing you
Because these changes often happen gradually, the person with Parkinson’s may not immediately recognize how much their speech has changed.
How Does SPEAK OUT! Therapy Work?
Speaking is normally an automatic activity—we usually do not have to think about every word we say. Parkinson’s disease can make automatic movements more difficult because they rely heavily on the brain’s dopamine system.
SPEAK OUT! helps shift speech from an automatic activity to a more deliberate and purposeful one. Instead of simply being told to “talk louder,” clients learn to speak with INTENT.
Speaking with intent means using focused effort and purpose behind each word. This can help improve:
Vocal strength and volume
Speech clarity
Breath support for speaking
Vocal quality
Articulation
Vocal expression and intonation
Confidence during conversations
SPEAK OUT! is not about yelling or forcing the voice. It teaches individuals to use their speech system more effectively so their voice sounds stronger, clearer, and more natural.
What Happens During SPEAK OUT! Therapy?
SPEAK OUT! begins with an individualized speech and voice evaluation. Treatment then includes structured exercises that progress from basic vocal tasks to functional conversation.
Therapy activities may include:
Vocal warm-ups
Sustaining the voice
Pitch exercises
Counting and reading aloud
Cognitive-speaking exercises
Practicing common phrases and functional communication
Carrying “speaking with intent” into everyday conversations
Clients also complete regular home practice using specialized SPEAK OUT! materials. Consistent practice is an important part of helping the new speaking pattern become easier to use throughout daily life.
After completing individual therapy, ongoing practice through home exercises and group practice sessions may help clients maintain their progress. Parkinson Voice Project also offers free online SPEAK OUT! Home Practice Sessions that are available live during the week or through recordings.
Who Is SPEAK OUT! For?
SPEAK OUT! is designed primarily for people with Parkinson’s disease who are experiencing—or are at risk of developing—changes in their speech, voice, or swallowing.
You may benefit from a SPEAK OUT! evaluation if:
Your voice has become softer or weaker
Family members frequently ask you to repeat yourself
Your speech sounds mumbled or rushed
You have difficulty being heard in restaurants or groups
Your voice becomes tired during longer conversations
You have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and want to be proactive
You do not need to wait until communication becomes significantly impaired to begin therapy. Early intervention can help establish strong speech habits and provide a structured plan for maintaining communication over time.
Parkinson’s Speech Therapy in Buffalo and West Seneca, NY
Back 2 You Speech Language Pathology now provides SPEAK OUT! therapy for adults with Parkinson’s disease in Buffalo, West Seneca, and throughout Western New York. Teletherapy may also be available for individuals located elsewhere in New York State.
As a Certified SPEAK OUT! Provider, I am excited to offer this specialized approach to help people with Parkinson’s communicate more clearly, participate more fully in conversations, and feel more confident using their voices.
Contact Back 2 You Speech Language Pathology today to learn more or schedule a SPEAK OUT! evaluation.
Phone: 716-202-8616
Email: kpaler@back2youslp.com
Location: 40 Gardenville Parkway W, Suite 216, West Seneca, NY 14224
Helping YOU get back to YOU!
To learn more about the program, visit the Parkinson Voice Project.
I am excited to share that I am now a Certified SPEAK OUT!® Provider through Parkinson Voice Project!
SPEAK OUT! is a specialized speech therapy program developed specifically for people with Parkinson’s disease. The program is designed to help individuals regain and retain their ability to communicate by learning to speak with INTENT.
How Does Parkinson’s Disease Affect Speech?
Parkinson’s disease can affect the strength, speed, and coordination of the movements needed for speech. Over time, a person’s voice may become quieter, weaker, raspy, breathy, or more monotone. Speech may also become faster, mumbled, or difficult for others to understand.
Common speech and voice changes associated with Parkinson’s disease include:
Reduced vocal volume, also called hypophonia
Mumbled or unclear speech
A raspy, breathy, or weak voice
Speaking too quickly
Reduced facial expression
Less variation in pitch or tone
Difficulty being heard in groups or noisy environments
Frequently being asked to repeat yourself
Feeling as though you are speaking loudly when others still have difficulty hearing you
Because these changes often happen gradually, the person with Parkinson’s may not immediately recognize how much their speech has changed.
How Does SPEAK OUT! Therapy Work?
Speaking is normally an automatic activity—we usually do not have to think about every word we say. Parkinson’s disease can make automatic movements more difficult because they rely heavily on the brain’s dopamine system.
SPEAK OUT! helps shift speech from an automatic activity to a more deliberate and purposeful one. Instead of simply being told to “talk louder,” clients learn to speak with INTENT.
Speaking with intent means using focused effort and purpose behind each word. This can help improve:
Vocal strength and volume
Speech clarity
Breath support for speaking
Vocal quality
Articulation
Vocal expression and intonation
Confidence during conversations
SPEAK OUT! is not about yelling or forcing the voice. It teaches individuals to use their speech system more effectively so their voice sounds stronger, clearer, and more natural.
What Happens During SPEAK OUT! Therapy?
SPEAK OUT! begins with an individualized speech and voice evaluation. Treatment then includes structured exercises that progress from basic vocal tasks to functional conversation.
Therapy activities may include:
Vocal warm-ups
Sustaining the voice
Pitch exercises
Counting and reading aloud
Cognitive-speaking exercises
Practicing common phrases and functional communication
Carrying “speaking with intent” into everyday conversations
Clients also complete regular home practice using specialized SPEAK OUT! materials. Consistent practice is an important part of helping the new speaking pattern become easier to use throughout daily life.
After completing individual therapy, ongoing practice through home exercises and group practice sessions may help clients maintain their progress. Parkinson Voice Project also offers free online SPEAK OUT! Home Practice Sessions that are available live during the week or through recordings.
Who Is SPEAK OUT! For?
SPEAK OUT! is designed primarily for people with Parkinson’s disease who are experiencing—or are at risk of developing—changes in their speech, voice, or swallowing.
You may benefit from a SPEAK OUT! evaluation if:
Your voice has become softer or weaker
Family members frequently ask you to repeat yourself
Your speech sounds mumbled or rushed
You have difficulty being heard in restaurants or groups
Your voice becomes tired during longer conversations
You have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and want to be proactive
You do not need to wait until communication becomes significantly impaired to begin therapy. Early intervention can help establish strong speech habits and provide a structured plan for maintaining communication over time.
Parkinson’s Speech Therapy in Buffalo and West Seneca, NY
Back 2 You Speech Language Pathology now provides SPEAK OUT! therapy for adults with Parkinson’s disease in Buffalo, West Seneca, and throughout Western New York. Teletherapy may also be available for individuals located elsewhere in New York State.
As a Certified SPEAK OUT! Provider, I am excited to offer this specialized approach to help people with Parkinson’s communicate more clearly, participate more fully in conversations, and feel more confident using their voices.
Contact Back 2 You Speech Language Pathology today to learn more or schedule a SPEAK OUT! evaluation.
Phone: 716-202-8616
Email: kpaler@back2youslp.com
Location: 40 Gardenville Parkway W, Suite 216, West Seneca, NY 14224
Helping YOU get back to YOU!
To learn more about the program, visit the Parkinson Voice Project.
