Empowering Voices and Movements for people with Parkinson’s
Courtney Carter
/ Categories: WELLNESS, 2024

Empowering Voices and Movements for people with Parkinson’s

People with Parkinson ’s disease and similar neurological conditions often experience changes in the brain that can prevent them from recognizing changes in their movement or the ability to maintain clarity and volume in their speech. As a result, even simple tasks, such as getting in and out of a car or carrying on a conversation, can become challenging and time consuming.

But thanks to treatment options including LSVT LOUD and LSVT BIG, people can retrain their brains to reclaim some ability.

As SVMC physical therapist Noelle De Geus, DPT, explains, “While both the LOUD and BIG treatments are based on Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), they’re distinctly different treatments that offer different benefits.”

She adds, “LSVT BIG focuses on mobility and large movements, LSVT LOUD targets speech. By intensively practicing louder speech or bigger movements, patients can essentially retrain their brains and bodies. Both treatments are offered at SVMC with LSVT BIG treatment provided by a physical therapist and physical therapist assistant, and LSVT LOUD conducted by a speech-language pathologist.”

 

Here’s a look at what’s involved in each treatment option:
LSVT BIG

The goal of LSVT BIG is to help patients recalibrate their perceptions of their movements, to counteract the tendency towards smaller, slower movements in Parkinson's disease.

It involves challenging, high-intensity, one-on-one clinical treatment delivered over one month’s time by a certified clinician. LSVT BIG consists of one-hour sessions, four sessions per week, with daily homework exercises. 

While LSVT BIG treatment can help people in all stages of Parkinson ’s disease, it’s ideal

to begin treatment before significant changes in movement and function have occurred.   

LSVT LOUD

Despite its name, there’s more to LSVT LOUD than helping people improve their vocal volume. Like LSVT BIG, LOUD is provided by a certified clinician over a period of one month.  Treatment consists of one-hour sessions, four sessions per week, with daily homework exercises. Over the course of treatment, patients improve their ability to perceive how loud they are speaking. This allows them to speak at a more normal volume and be better understood.  The effects can last two years or longer post-treatment.

While LSVT LOUD and LSVT BIG were originally developed for Parkinson's disease, there is early research to suggest that these programs can help people with other neurological conditions including stroke, multiple sclerosis, and ataxia. 

If you have Parkinson ’s disease or another neurological condition, consider asking your family and friends if they have noticed changes in your movements and/or voice.

 

To determine if you’re a candidate for either options or for more information, contact our therapists at 802-447-5140:

LSVT BIG: Noelle De Geus, DPT

LSVT LOUD: Kate O’Neill MS, CCC-SLP

 

To learn more about either treatment click below:

LSVT BIG

LSVT LOUD

Kate O'Neill, MS, CCC-SLP, Noelle De Geus, PT, DPT, and Nina Nunes, PTA are all members of SVMC Outpatient Rehabilitation, part of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.

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Ways to Help

At this difficult time, leaders and staff at Southwestern Vermont Health Care appreciate support from our communities. There are three major ways for members of the community to help front-line staff in their efforts to save lives.


Donate Funds
If you are able, donating money to the Southwestern Vermont Health Care Foundation COVID-19 Relief Fund is the most beneficial way to ensure staff have the vital equipment they need. The COVID-19 Relief Fund will be used to create additional negative pressure rooms; purchase life-saving supplies, such as ventilators, respirators, additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); implement a surge plan to expand patient care areas, including an off-site Respiratory Evaluation Center (REC); support of employees in distress; meet the need for assistance among patients and our communities. And now the CARES Act makes donating to non-profits more beneficial financially. Donations may be made online at svhealthcare.org/give-now.


Send Food to Staff
SVMC deployed an online tool to facilitate community members sending meals to front-line staff during the COVID-19 crisis. Community members can visit mealtrain.com/trains/v1w8yz and volunteer to purchase a meal for as few as two staff members or as many as 25. All recommended restaurants will make no-contact deliveries to SVMC in Bennington, the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation in Bennington, and the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Hoosick Falls, NY.

 

Donate Personal Protective Equipment
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center is requesting the community to assist with donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The hospital currently needs the following PPE: N95 Masks, typically found in industrial businesses and home workshops; Nitrile gloves in all sizes; home-sewn cotton masks; and home-sewn cloth surgical caps, known also as scrub caps and skull caps. PPE donations are accepted through Catherine Hagadorn, program coordinator for the Quality, Safety, and Value Department, by e-mailing Catherine.Hagadorn@svhealthcare.org or calling 802-447-5600.

 

SVHC's medical team and essential staff are extremely grateful to the community for every contribution. Thank you! 

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