Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic

Parkinson's Speech Therapy

The University of Toledo was recently awarded a grant from Parkinson Voice Project to offer FREE group speech therapy for persons diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease!!   
 SpeakOutLoud Crowd

    • Parkinson Voice Project is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the world solely dedicated to helping people with Parkinson’s improve their speech and swallowing. Parkinson Voice Project is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
    • Ninety percent of people with Parkinson’s may develop speech difficulty, and aspiration pneumonia due to swallowing issues accounts for an estimated 70% of the mortality rate in this patient population. 
    •  When people with Parkinson's lose their speaking abilities, this impacts their ability to effectively converse with family and friends, talk on the phone, and even order food in a restaurant.
    • Parkinson Voice Project has developed a two-part therapy approach that strengthens the muscles used for speaking and swallowing by combining individual speech therapy (SPEAK OUT!®) with ongoing group therapy (The LOUD Crowd®). 
    • Parkinson Voice Project’s SPEAK OUT!® & LOUD Crowd® Grant Program provides professional training and therapy supplies to speech therapy clinics throughout the United States and abroad in an effort to increase patient access to quality speech treatment.
    • The University of Toledo Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic was selected as a grant recipient and is now providing LOUD Crowd® to serve our local Parkinson’s community.
    • Parkinson Voice Project’s program emphasizes speaking with intent and converts speech from an automatic function to an intentional act.
    • SPEAK OUT! consists of individual speech therapy conducted by a speech-language pathologist. Together, the patient and clinician work their way through a series of speech, voice, and cognitive exercises outlined in a workbook.  
    • The LOUD Crowd consists of weekly speech therapy sessions and provides camaraderie, support, and encouragement for this patient population that is battling a progressive, degenerative condition.  

      FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
      Caroline Menezes
      Clinical Program Supervisor
      419.530.4443
      caroline.menezes@utoledo.edu

In addition, you may contact The University of Toledo Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic directly at 419.530.4339.
Speech-Language Pathology Home Page

Parkinson’s Resources:
Parkinson Voice Project
Parkinson Voice Project/Our Speech Therapy Program
Parkinson Foundation of NW Ohio

Last Updated: 6/27/22