Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT®) Big and Loud Therapy

Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute now offers Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT®) Big and Loud Therapy to empower those living with Parkinson’s disease to speak loud and move big.

Parkinson’s disease can impact a person’s speech and voice, which in turn impacts his or her quality of life. Declining vocal strength, muffled speech and difficulty swallowing create problems with communication and eating. Patients also often experience tremors, slow movement, impaired balance and stiffness. But there is good news – studies have proven patients with Parkinson’s disease at any stage can benefit from intensive rehabilitation. LSVT Big and Loud is especially effective soon after the disease is diagnosed.

Speak loud – move big

Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) is an effective treatment program that’s proven to help individuals living with Parkinson’s disease, giving them new hope for improved communication and movement for work, family and social activities. The method was developed following rigorous research funded by the National Institutes of Health. Sister Kenny physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists are certified to offer LVST Big and Loud at several convenient locations.

LSVT Big and Loud is an intense program that includes physical and or speech therapy over a period of four weeks.

• LSVT Big
  Physical therapists or occupational therapists use LSVT Big to address the unique movement impairments for people with Parkinson’s disease. Therapists work with individuals to improve major motor skills, like gait, limb movement and balance.
• LSVT Loud
  Speech-language pathologists improve vocal loudness by stimulating the muscles of the voice box (larynx) and speech mechanism through a series of Loud exercises. Therapy does not train people to shout or yell – rather it trains individuals to use their voice at a healthy level with no strain.

Outcomes

Outcomes show that 90 percent of patients improve vocal loudness following treatment with a majority maintaining improvement for 12 to 24 months after treatment. Patients also have also shown dramatic improvements in balance and speed of movement in walking and daily living tasks.

If a patient is not a candidate for LSVT Big and Loud, a less intensive traditional therapy schedule can be arranged.

Appointments

Patients need a referral from their health care provider before beginning LSVT Big and Loud. For more information or to set up an appointment, please call 612-262-7979 or fax 612-262-7980.

Locations

LSVT Big and Loud is offered at the following Sister Kenny CORe locations.

• Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis
• Mercy Hospital, Coon Rapids
• United Hospital, St. Paul
• Unity Hospital, Fridley

Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute
800 E. 28th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-863-4200 or toll free 866-880-3550
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