Parkinson's Rehabilitation

(LSVT LOUD™ and LSVT BIG™)

Lee Silverman Voice Treatments (LSVT LOUD™ and LSVT BIG™) are innovative and clinically-proven methods for improving communication and movement in individuals with Parkinson's disease and other conditions, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome. LSVT is available at NMMC-Tupelo, NMMC-Iuka and NMMC-Pontotoc. Physician or nurse practitioner's referral is required.

LSVT LOUD

LSVT LOUD therapy can improve both the voice and speech of individuals with Parkinson's disease by treating underlying physical pathology associated with the disordered voice.

Treatment focuses on improving vocal loudness. LSVT Loud is administered by a certified speech-language pathologist on an intensive schedule of 16 individual, 60-minute sessions in one month’s time.

Ninety percent of patients improve vocal loudness from pre to post-treatment. About 80 percent of patients maintain treatment improvements in their voice one to two years after treatment.

Treatment results last up to two years, making LSVT LOUD the “gold standard” in treating speech disorders for people with Parkinson's disease.

LSVT BIG

LSVT BIG research has documented faster walking with bigger steps, improved balance and increased trunk rotation. It is a standardized treatment protocol that trains a single target of amplitude (bigger movements).

LSVT BIG is administered by a certified physical therapist or occupational therapist on an intensive schedule of 16 individual, 60-minute sessions in one month’s time. It teaches how to avoid inactivity and keep movements alive during everyday activities.

Research suggests that patients should not wait until they begin to experience disability, impaired function or loss of balance to start exercise-based physical and occupational therapy.

SPEAK OUT! & LOUD Crowd

SPEAK OUT! is a therapy regimen to help people with Parkinson’s disease improve their voicing, and in turn, their swallowing. In this program, speech is transformed from an automatic function to an intentional task. SPEAK OUT! is usually completed in 12 sessions spanning four weeks. Individuals report improvement in their speaking, ability to be heard and overall quality of life.

SPEAK OUT! is offered by appointment at NMMC Outpatient Rehabilitation Center, located at Longtown Medical Park in Tupelo. Physician or nurse practitioner's referral is required. The speech therapist will bill your insurance for SPEAK OUT! treatment services provided. Please check with your insurance to determine the co-pay or cost associated with these services.

LOUD Crowd is the free group therapy portion of the program, which is not currently meeting because of COVID-19 concerns. Sessions help individuals maintain skills obtained during SPEAK OUT! and foster camaraderie among members.

Participation in SPEAK OUT! & LOUD Crowd can change the effects that Parkinson’s disease has on your voice. Muscles become weak because they are not used to their full capacity, not because Parkinson’s is making them weak. SPEAK OUT! & LOUD Crowd requires you to use the muscles for speaking and swallowing to their full potential to prevent decline.

The SPEAK OUT! & LOUD Crowd therapy regimens were developed at Parkinson Voice Project in Richardson, Texas.