Our experiences of Lee Silverman Voice Treatment
The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment is a type of speech therapy developed specifically for people with Parkinson’s. The programme helps people to recognise that their voice is too quiet and trains them to speak more loudly.
Here, Geoff, who is 73 and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2016, and his wife Pat, share their experience of the therapy and their delight with the results.
Geoff says:
Before, I did not realise how my quiet voice and lack of responses in conversations was affecting my relationships. Now I do and can take action to correct this.
I was very apprehensive about the course. I did not think I needed speech therapy. I put almost everything I could no longer manage down to Parkinson’s and hence it needed no action on my part. I could not ‘help’ it and others should adapt to compensate.
Any criticism or request for change was rejected. If Pat could not hear me, it was her problem not mine. I had begun to avoid situations when I would need to speak, and I stopped answering the phone and zoned out of family social activities.
However, Mel, my speech and language therapist, was very positive, enthusiastic and encouraging. Her feedback also made me feel the time spent was worthwhile. It took considerable effort to achieve the voice level Mel believed I could reach.
The course was 4, 1-hour sessions a week over Zoom (due to lockdown) and when there wasn’t a session planned, I had to complete homework sessions. For example, I had to talk to Pat in the car when we were out, describing what we were passing, while maintaining the volume in my voice.
Think LOUD became a daily mantra, with posters on the walls to remind me, and Think LOUD on each phone handset.
(Photo by Melissa Clegg, Speech Therapist at Hobbs Rehabilitation)
Mel got me chatting over meals and with friends again. As the sessions progressed my voice strengthened and my confidence and willingness to engage with others improved. In turn, this led to better relationships with family and friends.
Since the end of the therapy I have continued to practice the techniques I learnt. I read to my 6-year old grandson each week, which helps build our relationship, and he scores my voice at the end of it! And at work, my colleagues now comment positively about the volume of my voice, which makes discussions easier and more fluid.
Before, I did not realise how my quiet voice and lack of responses in conversations was affecting my relationships. Now I do and can take action to correct this.
The course was hard work. I felt challenged to keep going but it was very worthwhile in the end. I feel much better about myself, less anxious, more positive and outgoing. I smile more, I laugh more - and life is fun again!
Pat says:
It feels as if the changes are almost miraculous. It was a huge time commitment and very intensive, but did it work? Absolutely, yes!
Before starting the LSVT programme, Geoff’s voice had become much quieter, and had less expression. He had stopped opening conversations and when asked a question would reply with very limited answers.
In the car he had stopped chatting to me. In the evenings he would sit, not communicating at all, or doze off to sleep. This did start to impact our previously busy social life. Friends reduced contact with us and invitations were not extended. I began to overcompensate and talk more and more as he became more silent.
Geoff recognised his voice had become quieter, but I think he had put this down to my own hearing loss. Despite my hearing aids, he assumed it was my imagination when I said I couldn’t hear him.
At the start of the LSVT programme, Mel showed us where on a chart Geoff’s voice needed to be and how he had to Think LOUD in order to regain normal volume.
As the programme developed, family and friends all shared with Geoff that his voice had become too quiet for normal conversation, and welcomed his new, louder voice with much needed positive feedback. Mel also got Geoff to talk about his day-to-day life and to answer her questions with longer, more detailed responses each time. He had to think quickly and to formulate his answers on the spot - something he still found difficult.
With his louder voice, Geoff’s confidence has returned. He thinks more quickly and can respond to random questions. If he needs a moment to organise his thoughts, he just says ”Let me think for a minute.” I no longer speak for him or move conversations along by intervening. One friend commented, “The old Geoff is back – there is laughter in his voice, and a joke or two again".
It feels as if the changes are almost miraculous. It was a huge time commitment and very intensive, but did it work? Absolutely, yes!
- The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment is not available everywhere. Talk to your Parkinson's nurse or speech and language therapist to see if it's available in your area. Find out more about speech and language therapy.