Our clinic offers speech-language pathology (SLP) services to help with a wide variety of symptoms that are part of Parkinson’s Disease. This can be voice services to help with speaking louder, swallowing safely, and managing your day-to-day needs. We’re ready to be part of your treatment team. Individual and group services are provided by graduate student clinicians in our MS-SLP program. They are supervised by licensed and certified SLPs who are experts in these treatment areas. We offer both in-person and telehealth sessions.
Individuals are encouraged to seek services at any stages, including before you may notice changes to your speaking. There is ample research evidence that people with Parkinson’s can prevent the loss voice skills and improve voice, cognition and swallowing skills through speech therapy. Speech-language therapy addresses the underlying impairment, as well as its functional impact on communication or swallowing in daily situations.
To schedule a speech evaluation, contact the UI Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic, at 319-335-8736 or have your physician fax a referral to 319-335-8851.
Services
Voice and Loudness
If you have problems with people understanding you or your voice being clear enough, we offer two programs which can help. SPEAK OUT! ® and LSVT LOUD ® are intensive, research- based programs that can improve how people with PD talk and are understood. The programs run for four weeks in a row with 3-4 individual sessions a week. Clients work on a series of speech, voice and cognitive exercises to get their voices stronger and clearer. Following treatment, we offer two online, weekly therapy groups to maintain the progress made during therapy.
Memory and Problem Solving
When Parkinson’s affects someone’s memory, planning skills, problem solving or other aspects of thinking, speech therapy can make a difference. In our clinic, we have expert SLPs who supervise graduate students helping people who face these challenges. We also work closely with care partners, providing them with support as they help their loved ones navigate these changes. Whether you are experiencing new difficulties or want to target something that’s been an ongoing problem, we’re here to support you in your journey.
Swallowing
If you have concerns about your swallowing or have already been diagnosed with a swallowing problem (dysphagia), we can help. Our clinic offers clinical swallowing evaluations and can recommend if additional evaluations are needed. When we know the specific problem, we work with you on specific exercises to improve the strength and efficiency of your swallow. We can also recommend strategies and maneuvers to protect your lungs and reduce the risk of aspiration related illness. Treatment may also include counseling on ways to modify your foods and liquids to optimize nutrition and hydration.
Support groups
STRONG Voices for Parkinson’s voice practice group
STRONG Voices for Parkinson’s is a free voice practice group for people who have completed individual therapy in SPEAK OUT!, LSVT LOUD or PhORTE. The group focuses on maintaining voice skills from therapy and providing opportunities to practice your STRONG Voice.
Individual therapy services provided
LSVT LOUD
LSVT LOUD is a program designed to improve functional communication in daily living by increasing vocal loudness. LSVT LOUD consists of 4 sessions per week for 4 weeks (16 sessions in a month). Each session lasts 60 minutes. The treatment involves intensive daily training sessions along with family-assisted practice sessions at home and emphasizes high vocal effort. The individual is encouraged to “THINK LOUD.” Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of this program for individuals with Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, MS, and Huntington's disease. It is also effective for children with cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, and autism. The acronym LSVT stands for Lee Silverman Voice Treatment in honor of the client that inspired the therapy program.
Diagnostic and therapy services are provided by LSVT LOUD® certified SLPs or graduate student-clinicians under their supervision. Follow-up sessions are scheduled as needed.
What to do if you are interested in LSVT LOUD?
Obtain a referral from your neurologist for a speech evaluation and speech therapy 4 times/week x 4 weeks. It is possible that you may need to be seen by an otolaryngologist (ENT) for an endoscopic voice evaluation to rule out other voice problems.
For more information about LSVT LOUD contact Louise Pinkerton at louise-pinkerton@uiowa.edu or view the LSVT Global website.
To schedule a speech evaluation, contact the UI Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic, at 319-335-8736 or have your physician fax a referral to 319-335-8851. You will be contacted when we have openings for new clients.
SPEAK OUT!
SPEAK OUT! Individual Therapy and weekly SPEAK OUT! Therapy Groups are available at our clinic to help individuals with Parkinson’s disease regain and maintain effective communication. In this program, clients work through a series of speech, voice, and cognitive exercises with the goal of speaking with INTENT. This is an intensive program developed by Parkinson Voice Project® with typically 3 sessions a week for 4 weeks. To maintain the gains from individual services, clients transition to weekly online meetings of SPEAK OUT! Speech Groups. We offer several groups to meet the needs of clients with different skill levels. You must have completed the SPEAK OUT! program to join a group.
Diagnostic, therapy, and group services are provided by SPEAK OUT! licensed SLPs or graduate student-clinicians under their supervision.
What to do if you are interested in SPEAK OUT!?
Obtain a referral from your neurologist for a speech evaluation and speech therapy. It is possible that you may need to be seen by an otolaryngologist (ENT) for an endoscopic voice evaluation to rule out other voice problems.
For more information about SPEAK OUT!, contact Louise Pinkerton at louise-pinkerton@uiowa.edu or view the Parkinson Voice Project webpage.
To schedule a speech evaluation, contact the UI Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic, at 319-335-8736 or have your physician fax a referral to 319-335-8851. You will be contacted when we have openings for new clients.
For more information, watch the Learn about Parkinson’s webinar offered by Parkinson Voice Project.
Memory and cognition
Neurological events such as a stroke, brain injury, or other diagnoses can affect the ability to talk, communicate, think, and connect with others. In our clinic, a group of experts focus on helping those who face these challenges.
Swallowing (Dysphagia)
The UI Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic offers services to address swallowing impairments (dysphagia) resulting from a variety of causes.
Community services
Clinicians and graduate student clinicians may be available to talk to your group about clinical services for Parkinson’s disease. Contact Louise Pinkerton to discuss setting up a presentation.
Research services
Clients may be offered opportunities to participate in research studies investigating the nature of Parkinson’s disease and the efficacy of state-of-the-art treatment methods. Participation is entirely voluntary and does not affect clients' candidacy for treatment in the clinic.
Clinical coordinators
