I finished  Lee Silverman as well in May with the same positive results;
however, I did NOT continue
practicing even though i had intended  to - probably because i  was
distracted by the chronic back pain that started just about then, and the
related stress.  IOW - excuses, excuses.  But i have started my 20
minutes/day again last week and am confident i can get it back.  I really
slipped.  PD is a battle, a war, the best you can hope to do is fight it to
a draw.  But if you value the quality of your life, it's worth it not to
give up and lose outright.

Craig, where did
 you take it?  I went to JFK Hospital in Edison.  Thought they did well with
it.-----Original Message-----
From: Craig Mellinger <[log in to unmask]>
To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, August 31, 1998 12:36 AM
Subject: Re: Are Communication Losses Typical?


>I recently  finished a  speech therapy program called the Lee Silverman
>voice and speech Therapy. It consists of 4 classes a week of 1 hour.
>each for 4 weeks.The only other person with you in the class is the
>therapist.There is follow up appt for  a month after you complete the
>course.I followed the course and was very satisfied with the progess I
>made. The course that is outlined here sound a lot  like the one i just
>finished.IT was developed with the need of the Parkinson patient in
>mind.The excercises are aimed at keeping the throat muscless strong and
>the comittment to do the excercises every day. The only conact info
>Monte Wetzler wrote:
>>
>> I went through voice therapy designed for PWPs.  It did make a
substatantial
>> difference, but in order to maintain the level of improvement and perhaps
even
>> extend it does require twice daily practice as prescribed.   But it only
takes
>> about  10 -15 mins. a time.
>>
>> Leo Fuhr wrote:
>>
>> > Bonnie Cunningham, RN replied in part:
>> >
>> > > Communication problems, such as those mentioned (speaking, writing,
>> > > thinking, typing, organizing thoughts) can indeed be problems
associated
>> > > with PD.
>> > >
>> > > Changes in speech and voice are often the first noticable sign of PD.
>> > > With PD the muscles in the throat, just as the muscles of the arms
and
>> > > legs, are affected which results in speech and/or swallowing
>> > difficulties.
>> > > To improve the quality of the voice and to PREVENT choking, it is
>> > > recommended to have an evaluation by a Speech Pathologist who can
then
>> > > teach you exercises to improve the muscle tone and flexibility of
muscles
>> > > used for speech and swallowing.  FYI, we (NPF) have a new updated
(free)
>> > > book available on Speech and Swallowing.  The book is called
"Speaking
>> > > Out".  To obtain a copy, please call us at 1-800-327-4545.
>> > >
>> > > With the writing and typing difficulties, these dexterity problems
can be
>> > > improved, again with certain exercises. Seeking an evaluation from an
>> > > occupational therpaist may be beneficial.
>> > >
>> > > The thought processes can be affected too. Just as important as the
>> > > therapies mentioned above (by the way, physical therapy is suggested
>> > too),
>> > > "exercising" the brain is helpful. Keeping the brain as active as
>> > possible
>> > > helps stimulate the thought processes.
>> > > Hopefully, by doing specific exercises for the specifc problems you
have,
>> > > you will be able to improve in all these areas and if continued
>> > regularly,
>> > > maintain status quo for a longer period of time.  It is impossible
for
>> > > anyone to say how rapidly these or any PD problems will progress as
each
>> > > and every case is different.
>> > >
>> > > Bonnie Cunningham, R.N.
>> > > Patient Services Director
>> > > National Parkinson Foundation
>> >
>> > Bonnie and others,
>> >
>> > When I attended a Parkinson's Rally in July 98 I was disappointed in
the
>> > speech therapist who talked to the group.  This particular therapist
seemed
>> > to think that working with Parkinson's patients to improve speech was
>> > usually not very successful.  The way I understood her reasoning, it
was
>> > because without continued daily practice, most therapies would quickly
show
>> > no improvement and  then a person is back to the problem again.  Is
this
>> > interpretation correct?  Do Parkies need to continually practice the
speech
>> > or swallowing therapies daily to not see the problems recurring?
>> >
>> > Thanks for any input you may have on this angle about speech therapy.
>> >
>> > The occupational therapist was the more upbeat of the two.....showed
>> > demonstration by seating herself and the featured neuro on chairs atop
the
>> > head table how to sit and rise easier from the type of chairs at the
rally.
>> >  Also mentioned home made remedies like taping foam rubber to pens,
>> > utensils to make for better grip or a button gripper from a paper clip.
>> >
>> > Jeanette Fuhr 47/9mo
>> > <[log in to unmask]>
>> > >
>I have is this.Contact Lisa Lafer Serviss,MA,CCC-SLP AT Morristown
>Memorial Hospital.95 Mt.Kemble Ave. Moristown N.J 07962-1978 phone is
>973-971-4529.Craig Mellinger 60/2.
>[log in to unmask]
>