FLORIDA: Speech Therapy Program Aimed At Assisting Parkinson's Patients

[Murray Charters <mcharters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

FLORIDA: Speech Therapy Program Aimed At Assisting Parkinson's Patients
By Diane C. Lade
Staff writer
Posted January 15 2004

The same muscular deterioration that makes it difficult for those with 
Parkinson's disease to walk or hold a pen also
can make it hard for them to speak loudly and clearly.

And the sensory problems that come with the disease can keep a patient from 
admitting he or she has a problem.

"They often deny they have a soft voice. To them, it sounds normal. They'll 
insist family members who can't hear them
must need a hearing aid," said Lorraine Olson Ramig, a speech pathology 
professor at the University of Colorado in
Boulder.

She created the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment program, named after one of her 
former patients 15 years ago, to tackle
the vocal and swallowing problems caused by Parkinson's. Extensive clinical 
trials have shown the treatment benefits
about 90 percent of participants.

Ramig will be in Boca Raton today and Friday to train speech clinicians 
interested in the program. There are about
2,000 certified Lee Silverman therapists worldwide.

Patients and caregivers can learn more about the program during a free, 
two-hour information session beginning at 12:30
p.m. Friday at the Boca Raton Marriott, 5150 Town Center Circle. Those 
interested must register through Take Charge!
Cure Parkinson's, the nonprofit group sponsoring the event, by calling 
561-620-1970 or online at
www.cureparkinsons.org.

Speech clinicians interested in the training can register through the Lee 
Silverman Voice Treatment Foundation at 888-
606-5788 or www.lsvt.org. Fees are $300 students, $500 for professionals.

Susan Levy, a speech therapist working in south Palm Beach County, was 
certified about five years ago. She has found
the treatment can benefit stroke patients as well as Parkinson's patients. The 
intensive therapy, which works best in
the disease's early stages, works the vocal cords and the respiratory system to 
help patients speak loudly and more
clearly.

Levy encourages spouses and families to come to the orientation along with 
patients. "I can't stress enough that this
rehabilitation program is dependent on the patient's motivation and the 
caregiver's support," Levy said.

Lee Silverman treatments usually are covered by Medicare, Levy said. A $1,590 
combined annual Medicare limit on speech
and physical therapieshas been postponed for two more years.

Diane Lade can be reached at dlade@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or 561-2 43-6618.

SOURCE:  South Florida Sun-Sentinel


* * *

----------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn