Communication Disorders Department—Speech and Hearing Clinic
SPEAK OUT!® and The LOUD Crowd® Program
The Truman State University Speech and Hearing Clinic received a grant from the Parkinson Voice Project to provide SPEAK OUT!® and The LOUD Crowd®, a two-part speech therapy program to help individuals with Parkinson’s disease regain and maintain their speaking skills. In partnership with speech-language pathologist Kelli Maeder at Northeast Regional Medical Center (NRMC), the therapy options are made available in the Kirksville, Mo., area.
SPEAK OUT!®
- Speech-language therapy program to help Parkinson’s disease patients keep their voice and speech strong and clear
- Individual treatment
- Available at Truman State University or Northeast Regional Medical Center
The LOUD Crowd®
- After the SPEAK OUT!® therapy program has been completed, The LOUD Crowd® helps participants maintain the skills they learned
- Group therapy maintenance program
- Available only at Truman State University, Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m.
I have Parkinson’s disease. Can I benefit from the SPEAK OUT!® and The LOUD Crowd® Program?
If you have a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease you join the nearly 1 million others in the United States with the same diagnosis. Along with medications, research supports the benefit of physical, occupational, and speech therapies to help you maintain function.
Here are some key questions to ask yourself or your close friends and family members…
- Do people ask you to repeat?
- Does your voice sound hoarse?
- Does your family say you speak too softly?
- Is your voice strong on some days, weak on others?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may benefit from the SPEAK OUT!® Program. Prior to initiating treatment, which requires 12 sessions spread over 4 weeks, a structured evaluation will help determine if you are a good match for the treatment program.
Due to the progressive nature of Parkinson’s, The LOUD Crowd® provides ongoing maintenance after completion of SPEAK OUT!®.
For appointments or questions, please contact:
Dr. Julia Edgar, PhD, CCC-SLP
Truman State University
Phone: (660) 785-4255
Email: jedgar@truman.edu
Kelli Maeder, MS, CCC-SLP
Northeast Regional Medical Center
Phone: (816) 645-4810
Email: kellimaeder@yahoo.com and kelli_maeder@chs.net