Lawrence Launches Speech Therapy Program for Those with Parkinson's

Lawrence Rehabilitation Hospital has launched “Let’s Talk at Lawrence,” a comprehensive new speech therapy program for those living with Parkinson’s disease and related neurological disorders. Located on the 40-acre Lawrence healthcare campus, the hospital provides acute and subacute physical rehabilitation services and programs on both an inpatient and outpatient basis.

The “Let’s Talk at Lawrence” initiative includes the SPEAK OUT® therapy program, developed by the Parkinson Voice Project® to help people regain and retain speech and swallowing, and the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) Loud® speech treatment platform. Lawrence’s team of dedicated speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are certified to provide SPEAK OUT! Therapy and LSVT Loud treatment. SLPs are trained to diagnose and treat conditions that negatively impact a patient’s ability to communicate and swallow, two functions that are commonly impaired in Parkinson’s.

Lawrence Rehabilitation Hospital provides a full range of services and support to patients with Parkinson’s and their loved ones. “Early intervention is key when it comes to Parkinson’s,” said Lawrence Rehab Hospital’s Donna Mininni, MS, CCC-SLP, CBIS, Department of Speech Pathology supervisor. “Working with an SLP can slow the progression of symptoms and help in developing strategies to facilitate clear speech and safe swallowing skills; it is life-changing, transformative care.”

A highly effective, evidence-based treatment, SPEAK OUT! combines education, individual and group speech therapy, daily home practice and continuous follow-ups. Patients are empowered to “speak with INTENT,” transitioning speech from an automatic function to an intentional act. Parkinson Voice Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization solely dedicated to helping people with Parkinson’s and related neurological disorders regain and retain their speech and swallowing.

LSVT LOUD is an intensive treatment platform designed to recalibrate a patient’s perception of their vocal volume and utilize a louder voice that is considered to be within normal limits. It includes 16 high effort, one-on-one therapy sessions completed at the outpatient level, among other exercises. LSVT LOUD is a program of LSVT global; its programs are based on decades of research.

“Let’s Talk at Lawrence” also features a Parkinson’s Support Group for patients, their caregivers and members of the local community. The goal of that element – which will launch this spring – is to provide attendees with the information, resources and connections needed to stay motivated and empowered.

For more information on the new program and support group, or to receive future email updates, please call (609) 896-9500, email Letstalk@lawrencerehab.com or visit lawrencerehabhospital.com.

Lawrence Rehabilitation Hospital features 60 acute beds and 56 subacute beds as well as an Outpatient Therapy Department. It has an established reputation for quality care and services. The hospital maintains a Five-Star Quality Measures Rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In addition to Lawrence Rehab Hospital, the Lawrence healthcare campus includes skilled nursing at The Meadows at Lawrence and Lawrence Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, and assisted living at The Terraces at Lawrence.