Parkinson's Disease and Parkinson's Plus

Communication Changes in Parkinson's Disease

Approximately 75-90% of people with Parkinson's experience speech and voice difficulties. These may include:

Quiet or weak voice
Slurred or unclear speech
Monotone or flat voice
Delays in finding words or expressing thoughts
These challenges can lead to frustration, loss of confidence and social withdrawal

Swallowing Changes in Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's can also impact swallowing, which may cause:

Coughing or choking when eating and drinking
Drooling
Longer mealtimes
Risk of aspiration, dehydration or weight loss

How We Can Help?

Our therapy is focused on helping you communicate with confidence, while maintaining a quality of life. We work with you to:

Improve speech clarity and volume
Feel more understood in conversations
Stay socially connected with family, friends and in the community

Our Approach

We offer flexible and personalised support tailored to your needs. We are trained and experienced clinicians at delivering Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT LOUD), a gold standard evidence based therapy, which is designed to help you:

Speak louder and more confidently
Regain confidence in communication
Work towards personalised goals

Research published in The British Medical Journal, July 2024, found that people with Parkinson’s who completed the LSVT LOUD programme had clearer, stronger voices and felt more confident communicating. This intensive therapy worked significantly better than standard NHS speech therapy or no therapy at all.

Find out more about LSVT Loud at the Neuro Speech Clinic here

Support for Families and Carers

We also support those around the person with Parkinson's Disease by:

Explaining changes in speech and swallowing
Demonstrating helpful interaction strategies
Involving them in the therapy plan
Offering space for questions and ongoing support

For more information about speech and language difficulties from the Parkinson's UK (PDUK) website please see here.