Train Your Voice
Ready to get this plan rolling?
We have identified your goals and presented you with a treatment plan. You’re now ready to begin your journey to restore your voice!
Treatment includes 3-4 guided telehealth sessions per week for four (4) weeks. Each session will last about 45 minutes.
You’ll complete two sessions of homework exercises every day – one in the morning and one in the evening (but only one on the days we meet for therapy).
I’ll provide you with all of the materials you’ll need to practice daily and participate in the therapy sessions. These materials are covered in your program fee, so there is no additional cost to you.
This is intensive, but it has to be that way…
Because we want you to reach your goals as efficiently as possible. Without daily practice, your voice will decline. You must be committed to this program to achieve long-term results.
That means that these four weeks of one-on-one therapy must be uninterrupted.
Your journey to restoring your voice will benefit from no interruptions such as travel, holidays, and even doctor appointments that interfere with one-on-one therapy sessions and your daily practice. If you become ill or have an emergency arise, we will evaluate and make the best plan of action so you can keep moving forward.
I have reserved time just for you.
Please plan to commit to the treatment schedule! This program is simple, but I am a tough coach, and you will have to work hard to meet YOUR goals! You wouldn’t want it any other way!
Here’s what we’ll do in therapy…
Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder, so we’ll focus on teaching you how to regain control over the movement of the muscles involved in speech and swallowing.
The exercises I provide are designed to target areas needing improvement. As therapy proceeds, the purpose of each exercise will be explained to you so that you’ll know exactly what to do to restore your best speaking voice.
Our therapy is data-driven to allow you to measure your progress in therapy and during home practice. Everything expected of you at home will be reviewed in our sessions together, so you’ll know exactly what to do and how to do it on your own.
Each session begins with warm-up exercises, respiratory and pitch change exercises, reading, and cognitive exercises. We will continually monitor your breath support, volume, vocal quality, articulation, and voice intonation as we work together.
Bonus! These exercises work on the SAME muscles and systems involved in swallowing. You get a two-for-one deal! So, by doing pitch exercises, we make sure the muscles involved in pitch range change stay vibrant and healthy. This is the system involved in swallowing.
Let that sink in.
This is the bonus of doing speech and voice exercises. Parkinson’s affects your voice and swallowing. You use the same muscles for both! When you work on speaking with a louder, stronger, clearer voice, you benefit from working on swallowing as well.
So, we are exercising the same systems for speaking and swallowing: respiratory (breathing), phonatory (voicing), and articulatory (pronunciation). You can do one set of exercises and get the double benefit.
As you progress in the program and meet and exceed your goals, I am ready to meet the challenge, celebrate with you, and provide additional opportunities for more complex tasks!
I will recommend your daily practice and social engagements with friends and family. Addressing all your physical, social, and emotional concerns is our top priority.
We will take data, measure progress, discuss in detail your maintenance program, and take a final therapy video to compare to the one we took during your initial assessment. We’ll also celebrate your accomplishments! Bravo!
Before you are released from our one-on-one therapy program…
While you’re in therapy, we’ll constantly monitor your progress and adjust exercises as necessary to reach your goals. And before we end therapy, these are things we’ll want to know:
Are you completing your exercises correctly during your daily routine?
Have you established a daily routine with or without support?
Do you have continued access to practice sessions with others?
Have your treatment goals been met?
Are you happy with your progress?
Does your speech pathologist think you’re ready to graduate from therapy?
If you diligently follow the plan…
You’ll once again be able to communicate with family, friends, and colleagues – even after just four short weeks together.
As your voice is restored, your relationships, confidence, and overall quality of life will improve.
I can’t wait for you to reap the benefits of your hard work!
It’s time for you to be heard!