Speech and Language Programs
The SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program, developed by Parkinson Voice Project®, helps people with Parkinson’s disease 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.
Existing research indicates about 70-80% of individuals with Parkinson’s disease experience some change in voice, and about 55% experience changes in articulation with disease progression (Miller, 2012). To postpone and mitigate this decline, it is optimal to begin speech therapy as soon as possible. Participation in the SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program can change the effects that Parkinson’s disease has on your voice, helping achieve your full potential.
At present, the pay-it-forward SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program is being offered at no cost through participation in a research study investigating the effectiveness of this treatment on speech intelligibility and communicative participation. This means that clients are encouraged to make a donation to help future clients benefit from our program.
Sessions will be conducted by SPEAK OUT! Therapy-trained graduate student clinicians, under the supervision of licensed speech-language pathologists who are certified in SPEAK OUT! Therapy.
SPEAK OUT! Therapy is usually completed in 8 sessions spanning four weeks, in person or via Zoom. In this four-week period, clients report improvement in their speaking, their ability to be heard, and their quality of life. Following this, individuals transition to the weekly SPEAK OUT! Therapy Group to maintain their communication skills.
Please contact Elizabeth Martin, MS, CCC-SLP, at the Speech-Language and Hearing Center (SLHC) at 617-373-6891 or at [email protected] to obtain information regarding enrollment. All sessions occur via Zoom or on-site at the SLHC, located in the Behrakis Health Sciences Center on the Boston Northeastern University campus.
The SLHC is easily accessible from Green and Orange MBTA lines. Free parking is available in West Village Garage on campus.
Please contact:
Elizabeth Martin, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language and Hearing Center (SLHC)
617-373-6891
[email protected]
I was very fortunate to get connected to Professor Martin. I never thought I needed a program such as SPEAK OUT! Therapy but I was wrong. It was clear I needed help with my speech. Sessions with the students were well-planned, fun, and most importantly, helpful. The program has given me the confidence to speak more clearly and with intent. I am very pleased with the progress I have made since our first session. I foresee a bright future, helping people with Parkinson’s, for the SLP grad students and SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program at Northeastern’s SLHC.
The SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program at Northeastern University has helped me to retain my ability to speak coherently and with intent so that I can fully communicate and have people understand what I am saying. All people involved with the program do a great job and I am grateful to be a member.
