SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program

Now Available at RHP Rehab

Rita Henn & Partners Inc. is pleased to announce The SPEAK OUT!®  Therapy Program through their accredited speech-language therapists based at selected facilities and via telerehab. 

What the program is about:

The SPEAK OUT!®  Therapy Program, developed by Parkinson Voice Project®, helps people with Parkinson’s and related neurological disorders regain and retain their speech and swallowing. This highly effective, evidence-based treatment combines education, individual and group speech therapy, daily home practice, and continuous follow-ups. Patients are empowered to "speak with INTENT", transitioning speech from an automatic function to an intentional act.

Up to 90% of people with Parkinson’s are at risk of losing their ability to speak. In addition, swallowing complications account for 70% of the mortality rate in this patient population. Our vision at Parkinson Voice Project is to make quality speech therapy accessible to people with Parkinson’s worldwide.

Samantha Elandary
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Parkinson's Voice Project

About Parkinson Voice Project

Parkinson Voice Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization solely dedicated to helping people with Parkinson’s regain and retain their speech and swallowing. The organization provides SPEAK OUT! Workbooks, online SPEAK OUT! Home Practice Sessions, and a weekly Parkinson’s Sing-Along to complement the speech therapy they will receive at RHP Rehab. The organization is headquartered in Richardson, Texas, and has trained over 10,000 clinicians in more than 40 countries.

Parkinson Voice Project’s Circle of INTENT

The process that is followed during the SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program can best be described by the Parkinson Voice Project’s Circle of INTENT.

1. SPEAK OUT! Evaluation

An evaluation is conducted by a “SPEAK OUT! Provider.” This is a speech-language pathologist who has completed Parkinson Voice Project’s SPEAK OUT! training course.

2. SPEAK OUT! eLibrary/Workbook

Parkinson Voice Project provides free digital workbooks and flashcards to every patient enrolled in the SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program. U.S. patients also receive a hard copy of the SPEAK OUT! Workbook.

3. What is Parkinson’s? Video

Patient, families, and close friends watch this video to learn about Parkinson’s and to understand why “intent” is an important key to managing this disease. Watch the video here.

4. Individual SPEAK OUT! Therapy

Patients and families work individually with a SPEAK OUT! Provider to learn the SPEAK OUT! exercises and to establish a consistent home practice routine. Most patients reach their treatment goals in 8-12 sessions.

5. SPEAK OUT! Therapy Groups

Near the end of individual SPEAK OUT! Therapy, patients transition to a weekly group for ongoing speech practice, education, and support.

6. SPEAK OUT! Refreshers

Retaining speech and swallowing with Parkinson’s requires continuous monitoring. Patients and families meet with their SPEAK OUT! Provider every 3-6 months for a re-evaluation and to adjust the treatment plan as needed.

7. Daily SPEAK OUT! Home Practice

Patients complete daily SPEAK OUT! exercises using the eLibrary materials, their SPEAK OUT! Workbook, and Parkinson Voice Project’s Online “Parkinson’s Speech Exercises.”

Who Can Benefit?

The SPEAK OUT!®  Therapy Program can be beneficial for patients with the following disorders:

  • Parkinson’ Disease
  • Parkinsonism
  • Essential tremor
  • Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
  • Multisystem Atrophy (MSA)
  • Cortico-basal Degeneration (CBD)
  • Lewy Body Dementia

Meet the team:

Meet our SPEAK OUT!® accredited speech-language therapists:

Lizanne van der Merwe

B. Speech, Language and Hearing Therapy (Stell.)

Certified SPEAK OUT!® Provider

RHPRehab Hazeldean

Daniella Abraham

MCommunication Pathology (UP)

Certified SPEAK OUT!® Provider

RHPRehab Irene

Surina Mahaffey

BCommunication Pathology (UP)

Certified SPEAK OUT!® Provider

RHPRehab Hazeldean & Irene

The SPEAK OUT!®  Therapy Program is currently offered in-person at RHP Rehab Irene and RHPRehab Hazeldean and can also be offered by means of telerehab.

How to get started:

Complete our inquiry form or send an email to smahaffey@rhprehab.co.za

An accredited SPEAK OUT!®  speech-language therapist will guide you through the process as described in the Parkinson’s Voice Project’s Circle of Intent.

Name

Resources & Support:

What is Parkinson’s Video – https://youtu.be/9YWu9b_4rwI

Testimonials of PVP website - Testimonials - Parkinson Voice Project