Major focus area

Speech Therapy -> Voice

Short description

Lee Silverman Voice Treatment is specifically designed for patients with Parkinson's disease, the Lee Silverman voice treatment advocates increasing the effort with which patients speak – thereby "pushing" the voice and making it stronger (Stemple, et al., 2000; Pannbacker, 1998).

Long description

Lee Silverman Voice Treatment is specifically designed for patients with Parkinson's disease, the Lee Silverman voice treatment advocates increasing the effort with which patients speak – thereby "pushing" the voice and making it stronger. In essence, patients are trained to exhale higher volumes of air out of their lungs, more forcefully – while simultaneously closing their vocal folds more completely. The result is a louder and stronger voice. Indications: This regimen was specifically designed to treat voice disorders caused by Parkinson's disease, but is also being increasingly used to treat vocal symptoms in other types of neurological disorders (Stemple, et al., 2000; Pannbacker 1998).