Speech / Voice Therapy and Exercises
As Parkinson's progresses, the person with PD may become harder to understand. Their voice often becomes softer (hypophonia) or hoarse. Their face may become more “masked” or expressionless. Their voice may sound monotone or have less inflection. They may speak faster (festinating speech), mumble, or repeat words or phrases (cluttering or palilalia). Together these symptoms are known as hypokinetic dysarthria.
Speech/language pathologists, also called speech therapists, are specialists in communication disorders. They can help those with Parkinson's compensate for these changes. They can also help with swallowing issues. Many speech therapists combine speech, voice, and cognitive exercises to also compensate for slowed thinking and attention issues.
Finding A Speech Therapist in Northern California
If you live in Northern California, contact the APDA Information & Referral Center at Stanford for a referral to a speech/language pathologist near you. Many of these speech therapists have experience treating those with Parkinson's.
If You Don't Use It, You Lose It!
For those with Parkinson's disease (PD) exercise is as important as medications, and that includes exercise of the muscles that control speech. Along with our lists of live online exercise classes and PD exercise videos, this page lists speech/voice exercises to do at-home.
Speech Therapy Resources |Live Speech/Voice Classes| Live Speech/Voice with Video Archives | Speech/Voice Exercise Videos | DVDs and Post Speech Therapy Maintenance Programs
Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT)
LSVT-LOUD is an intensive behavioral treatment program that requires sixteen therapy sessions in one month with a trained speech therapist. The primary goal is to help improve vocal loudness. As a result of therapy, improvements in speech clarity and breathing are often seen. DVDs are also sold for at-home treatment.
Parkinson Voice Project
This nonprofit offers SPEAK OUT!® and LOUD Crowd® therapy programs. Treatment begins with a speech evaluation, followed by Parkinson's information sessions and SPEAK OUT!® training with six weeks of follow up. Participants graduate to the LOUD Crowd® Facebook Live speech practice sessions for daily home practice, weekly online singalongs, or SPEAK OUT!® refresher courses.
Better Breathing Choir and Vocal Training for People with PD
By the Cummings Centre (Montreal, Canada)
Cost: 10 Classes $96 CAD Choir, $40 CAD Vocal Training + $30 CAD Cummings Center Membership
Classes: Better Breathing Choir, Vocal Training for People with Parkinson's and Movement Disorders
Class Times (PT):
- Monday: 10am (choir)
- Tuesday: 7am (vocal training)
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Note: Must be a Cummings Centre member to participate.
To register call 514-343-3510. Contact Annette Vezina, 514-734-1782, or the instructor for more information: Victoria McNeil 514-734-1779.
Sing for PD
By Dance for PD (New York, NY)
Cost: Free
Class focuses on breathing and vocal technique, rhythm, melody, song interpretation, and creativity.
Class Times (PT):
- Friday: 10am
Duration: 60 minutes
Click on "JOIN US" in the calendar class listing to open the registration webpage.
Note: Sing for PD has a hiatus between class sessi
Houston Area Parkinson Society Online Speech Classes
By Houston Area Parkinson Society
Cost: Free
Classes: speech, speech and exercise
Class Times (PT):
- Monday: noon (speech and exercise)
- Tuesday: 11:45am (speech), 2:45pm (speech and exercise)
- Thursday: 8:30am (speech)
Duration: 60 minutes (speech), 90 minutes (speech and exercise)
On the calendar, click on the class you want to join to get the link to join the class.
Let's Talk Loud Group Voice Therapy
By Impact Parkinson's (Westminster, BC)
Cost: $120 / 6 classes (2x week),
$30 / 30-min. virtual assessment for new clients,
$125/hr. 1:1 sessions (min. 5, max. 8)
Classes: virtual group voice therapy
Class Times (PT):
- Wednesday: 1pm
- Friday: 1pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Register by email to info@impactparkinsons.com or call 604-525-2631.
Tremble Clefs
By JCC on the Cohn Campus (Tampa, FL)
Cost: JCC Membership $39/month (special rates and promotions may apply)
Class addresses voice projection, breathing and posture.
Class Times (PT):
- Monday: 12pm
Duration: 60 minutes
Must be a member of JCC on the Cohn Campus to participate.
Virtual Voice Classes
By Parkinson Association of the Rockies
Cost: Loud for Life fee is unknown, Tremble Clefs is Free
Classes: Loud for Life, Tremble Clefs
Class times (PT):
- Monday: 12:30pm (LOUD for Life)
- Thursday: 12pm (Tremble Clefs)
LOUD for Life is continuing voice therapy class exclusively for graduates of LSVT LOUD speech therapy. Call 520-444-0618 to know if you are able to sign up for this class.
Tremble Clefs is a chorus for people living with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners. No previous musical experience is required. Link will be provided once a liability waiver is signed and sent to Elena OR Brogan.
Zoom Voice Group for PwP
By Santa Cruz Parkinson's Community Support Group
Cost: $60 / 6 weeks (EASE PD Newsletter discount is $30 off)
Class: voice exercise
Class times (PT):
- Monday: 11am
Duration: 60 minutes
Classes run in 6 week sessions with a break in between. Class size is limited. Registrants must commit to all 6 weeks. You can register for the class with the instructor, speech language therapist, Jocelyn Lagier, on her website, by phone (831-607-9520), or by using this form and mail her a check for tuition.
Sing Loud for PD
By Stony Brook Southampton Hospital (Southampton, NY)
Cost: Free
Class: Sing Loud
Class times (PT):
- Wednesday: 12:30pm (Sing Loud)
A chorus for people living with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners. No previous musical experience is required and all lyrics will be provided!
Note classes run in 6 week sessions with breaks in between. Join for one class or a whole session. Registration is limited.
LOUD Crowd
By Talach Speech Therapy
Cost: Free
Class: LOUD Crowd
Class times (PT):
- Tuesday: 1pm
Participants must have undergone therapy for the SPEAK OUT!® program and already have a workbook for home practice.
Contact Sarah Talach or 925-232-1868 to sign up.
Online SPEAK OUT! Home Practice
By Parkinson Voice Project (Richardson, TX)
Cost: Free
Classes: speech therapy exercise warm ups led by a speech language pathologist (SLP), who may answer listener questions, followed by reading in sync with the SLP for enunciation, volume, and inflection projection practice
Class times (PT):
- Monday-Friday: 8am
Duration: 30 minutes
Recordings of prior classes are below the live stream window. People who have completed SPEAK OUT! speech therapy for PD will benefit most from these practices.
Parkinson Place Online Voice Classes
By Parkinson Place (Sarasota, FL)
Cost: Free for those with Parkinson's
Classes: singing, Say it Loud & Clear
Class times (PT):
- Monday: 7:30am (singing)
- Tuesday: 7am (Say it Loud & Clear)
A couple Loud & Clear classes are available to watch here.
PFNCA Online Wellness Speech and Choir for Parkinson's
By Parkinson's Foundation of the National Capital Area (Silver Spring, MD)
Cost: $35/year (unlimited classes)
Classes: Communication Club, choir, social hour
Class Time (PT):
- Monday: noon
- Tuesday: 11am
- Wednesday: 8am (choir), noon (Communication Club), 1pm (social hour)
- Thursday: 11:30am
- Friday: 11:15am
Register once and join unlimited classes for a year.
Some classes are recorded and can be watched here.
Power For Parkinson's Live Stream Vocal Class
By Power For Parkinson's (Austin, TX)
Cost: Free
Classes: vocal strength
Class times (PT):
- Wednesday: 11am
Duration: about an hour
Classes are recorded and can be watched here.
Come Together Choir
Publisher: Neuro Challenge Foundation For Parkinson's and Key Chorale (Sarasota, FL)
Several 1-hour choral rehearsal videos of the Off Key Chorale, a Parkinson's and Parkinson's care partners choir. In this series the choir is learning 11 songs from the folk music era of the 50s and 60s. Each video begins with 15-20 mins. of easy stretching, breathing, and diction exercises.
Register for free to receive copies of either the lyrics or music via email. Print your copies or view them from a device and sing along.
Dual Task Training For Parkinson
Publisher: Triad Solutions, Inc. (Colorado)
Dual Task Training is combining speech therapy with physical movement and cognitive tasks. It has been shown to be the most comprehensive and fun type of speech therapy. This page has seven short dual task exercise videos plus one video of aquatic dual task training.
Keep On Moving, Exercises to do at Home
Publisher: Keep It On
Number five on this page of short exercise videos is an eight-minute breath and voice exercise video to enhance breathing, voice loudness and articulation.
Get LOUD! Stay LOUD!
By Get LOUD! Stay LOUD!
Cost: $34.99/month or $349.99/year, first month free
Online post speech therapy maintenance with a speech language pathologist (SLP) trained in either LSVT LOUD or Speak OUT!
Includes 15+ voice practice sessions per week as well as facial exercises, articulation practice, and more.
LSVT LOUD Homework Helper
Publisher: LSVT Global, Inc. Cost: $28 for DVD or download; $15/year streaming
Speech exercises for people with Parkinson's Disease and other neurological conditions. Available in English and Cantonese.
Voice Aerobics Post-Therapy Strengthening Program
By Voice Aerobics (Punta Gorda, FL)
A whole-body voice strengthening program, designed to serve as post speech therapy maintenance, developed by speech language pathologist Mary Spemulli.
Mary has made the program available on DVD and added fun speech practice tools, a speech volume reinforcement tool, and more. She also offers speech therapy and coaching via Zoom. (Telemedicine rates start at $40/30 minutes)
Before purchasing any products it is a good idea to watch her video, Speech Therapy and Beyond for Parkinson's Disease, in which she explains who benefits from speech therapy and the most effective speech therapy programs for those with PD.
Last updated November 2020 by Stanford Parkinson's Community Outreach
