Training Voice, Speech, Breath, and Movement for People with Parkinson’s, Caregivers, Health Care Providers, Therapists
What you’ll learn
Techniques to increase voice loudness and make speech more intelligible (understandable) to listeners, in just minutes.
Why your voice is soft and your speech sounds garbled- and how to improve communication.
Improve effective communication in everyday situations- ordering from a menu, talking on the phone, communicating with your doctor.
Requirements
Accessible to all. All breath, speech, voice, and movement techniques can be accomplished seated in any type of chair, standing, or even reclined.
Description
Speak Steady for Parkinson’s is a targeted program to enhance communication with training in speech, voice, and breath support for speech. People with Parkinson’s have reported significant impact of communication on quality of life, with increasing difficulty in conversations with family and friends, effective speaking on the phone, maintaining social relationships, and discussing medical information with healthcare providers. Effective communication is possible with simple, basic techniques to enhance speech, optimize vocal loudness, and improve breath support in everyday situations. This program is delivered by Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Jessica Ackerman MSCCC-SLP, who is also a Registered Yoga Teacher. Jessica blends her 20 years of experience in voice and speech therapy for Parkinson’s Disease, including LSVT LOUD, with a Breath-Based Yoga practice, to optimize communication and quality of life.
The Speak Steady program aims to maximize vocal loudness, breath support for speech, and intelligibility of speech that so often impact communication effectiveness of people with Parkinson’s Disease. This course gives provides the foundation of effective techniques, and then focuses on synchronizing basic gentle movements with breath and with speech (matching a movement to an inhale or exhale, and a movement to sound or word). Movements and poses can be achieved in a chair, wheelchair, recliner, standing, or yoga mat.
