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Parkinson's Program

Improving Movement and Communication

Parkinson's Program

Living Your Best Life

At RHI, our LSVT-certified clinicians will help you manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease through individualized treatment sessions. LSVT is a research-supported intervention targeting the movement and speech challenges experienced by people with Parkinson’s Disease. LSVT programming focuses on holistic, individualized, intensive treatment to improve everyday movement and communication.

Treatment For:

  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Atypical Parkinsonism
  • Dementia
  • Other Cognitive Impairment
  • Neurological Speech or Movement Disorders

Goal of Occupational Therapy

  • Fall prevention and safety
  • Self-care and home management
  • Adaptive equipment training and modifications
  • Energy conservation
  • Use of hands due to tremors
  • Patient and caregiver education

Goal of Speech Therapy

  • Enhancing speech intelligibility
  • Increasing vocal volume
  • Improving communication in the home and community
  • Increasing confidence in conversation

LSVT LOUD®

LSVT LOUD® is the first speech treatment with level 1 evidence and established efficacy for treating voice and speech disorders in people with Parkinson's Disease with application to other neurological disorders. LSVT LOUD® outcome data have been published in a series of articles in speech, otolaryngology and neurology journals. Research on LSVT LOUD® has documented improved impact on multiple levels of functioning in people with Parkinson’s Disease following treatment including:

  • Increased vocal loudness
  • Improved articulation and speech intelligibility
  • Improved intonation
  • Improvements in facial expression
  • Changes in neural functioning related to voice and speech

LSVT LOUD® is a standardized treatment protocol that is customized to the unique communication goals of each person across a range of disease severity and communication impairments. More information about LSVT LOUD® is available here. 

LSVT BIG®

LSVT BIG® is an intensive, amplitude-focused physical and occupational therapy approach developed from principles of the effective Parkinson’s specific speech treatment LSVT LOUD®. Research on LSVT BIG® has shown to improve motor functioning in individuals with Parkinson’s Disease in the following areas:

  • Faster walking with bigger steps
  • Improved balance
  • Improved trunk rotation
  • Improvements in activities of daily living such as getting in and out of bed, dressing, and bathing.

LSVT BIG® is a standardized treatment protocol, which is customized to the unique goals of each patient. It can be adapted or progressed to meet the needs of a patient based on the severity of the disease and the areas of daily living that are most impacted. More information about LSVT BIG® is available here.