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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]