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.