Speech Therapy effectively strengthens the muscles used for speaking and swallowing to improve the health and wellbeing of people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Restoring Hope Parkinson’s Therapy provides evidence-based speech therapy to address the speech/voice/swallowing and cognitive deficits associated with Parkinson’s. Therapy includes use of the SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program.
The SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program, developed by Parkinson Voice Project®, helps people with Parkinson’s regain and retain their speech and swallowing. The evidence-based program combines education for the patient and family, individual speech therapy, daily home practice using workbooks, flashcards, and online practice sessions, along with weekly speech groups, and regular re-evaluations. For more information about Parkinson Voice Project, visit www.ParkinsonVoiceProject.org.
Individual Therapy Program
Therapy places emphasis on speaking with intent and converting speech from an automatic function to an intentional act. At RHPT, patients and their speech pathologist work through a series of speech, voice, and cognitive exercises outlined in a corresponding workbook.
The intensive program usually consists of 12 sessions, over a 4-week period.
Maintenance Program
Following the individual intensive program, patients then transition to a maintenance program. Daily home exercises coupled with weekly speech and singing group sessions and six-month re-evaluations, has been shown to help patients maintain their communication skills throughout the progression of Parkinson’s. These group sessions also provide accountability, support and encouragements for its members who are all living with Parkinson’s.
RHPT Sing-A-Long (aka The Choir of Sound Intent)
Singing is a very effective way to keep the voice strong.
As part of the weekly speech and singing groups, RHPT invites members and their partners to the weekly ‘RHPT Sing-A-Long’ session. During the session, a RHPT Speech Pathologist takes the group through vocal exercises before our Musical Director leads the singing component. Throughout the year, members also have the option to sing at various community events as part of RHPT’s Choir of Sound Intent. This includes at ANZAC Day and Christmas Carol events as well as our annual Fundraiser.
