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SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program

What is the SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program

SPEAK OUT!® is a therapy regimen tailored to people with Parkinson's disease to improve their voicing, and in turn, their swallowing. In this program, speech is transformed from an automatic function to an intentional task. SPEAK OUT!® Therapy is usually completed in 12 sessions spanning four weeks. In this four-week span, patients report improvement in their speaking, their ability to be heard and their overall quality of life.

SPEAK OUT!® Therapy will also have a group therapy portion of the program and meets once weekly. The sessions provide maintenance for skills obtained during SPEAK OUT!® Therapy and are a source of camaraderie for the members. The SPEAK OUT!® sessions at Emory Healthcare are forthcoming and will soon be offered at Emory Brain Health Center, located at the same address below that SPEAK OUT!® Therapy occurs.

The SPEAK OUT!® Therapy regimen was developed at Parkinson Voice Project in Richardson, TX. Visit their website at the link below:

View the Parkinson Voice Project

When and where can I receive services?

SPEAK OUT!® Therapy is offered Monday through Thursday at the following location:

Emory Brain Health Center, Neuro Rehabilitation Clinic
12 Executive Park
Suite 470
Atlanta, GA 30329

Get Directions

I have Parkinson's disease. When should I begin seeing a speech therapist?

According to studies, up to 89% of people with Parkinson's disease develop difficulty communicating and up to 95% develop difficulty swallowing. To postpone and prevent this decline, it is optimal to begin speech therapy as soon as possible. Participation in SPEAK OUT!® Therapy can change the effects that Parkinson's disease has on your voice. Muscles become weak because they are not used to their full capacity, not because Parkinson's is making them weak. SPEAK OUT!® Therapy requires you to use the muscles for speaking and swallowing to their full potential to prevent decline.

What costs are associated with these services?

Speech therapy treatments will be billed to your insurance company for services provided. Please check with your insurance to determine the co-pay or cost associated with skilled speech therapy. The SPEAK OUT!® Therapy group will be a free service at Emory Healthcare.

Make an Appointment

An appointment for speech therapy will be scheduled following receipt of a physician’s prescription, which can be faxed to 404-778-5974. You will be contacted to schedule an appointment, once the physician’s prescription has been received. For additional information, please call 404-712-5527.

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