Betsy Salquist Now Certified as SPEAK OUT!® Therapist, a Program for Parkinsons Patients
Betsy Salquist, Speech-Language Pathologist at Spooner Health, recently became certified as a SPEAK OUT! therapist. As part of her ongoing commitment to supporting patients, Betsy is excited to provide this valuable program to her patients living with Parkinson’s disease. To participate in the program, patients must have an active referral for speech therapy.
The SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program, developed by the nonprofit organization, Parkinson Voice Project®, helps people with Parkinson’s and related disorders regain and retain their speech and swallowing abilities. When followed consistently, the program’s exercises can improve volume, articulation, breath support for speech, vocal quality, intonation, and facial expression.
This highly effective, research-based treatment combines education, individual SPEAK OUT! therapy sessions, SPEAK OUT! group classes, daily home practice, and ongoing follow-up support. Once patients enter the program, they remain part of it for life.
“I appreciate the SPEAK OUT! program because it is a non-profit evidenced based program dedicated to meeting patients where they are at with their speech function,” shared Betsy. “The program provides patients with free access to an online library of activities and exercises designed to help maintain their speech and swallowing abilities. Not only does the program benefit the patient, but it also enhances the quality of life for their loved ones.”
Recognizing that Parkinson’s Disease is a lifelong condition, the program offers free, ongoing support to patients through daily exercises and weekly online or in-person classes. It also equips speech-language pathologists with the necessary tools to be able to help patients with their speech and swallowing, empower them to manage their condition, and provide ongoing education.
To learn more about Parkinson’s disease, watch this short video from the Parkinson Voice Project: https://parkinsonvoiceproject.org/education/what-is-parkinsons/.
About Parkinson Voice Project:
Parkinson Voice Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization solely dedicated to helping people with Parkinson’s and related disorders regain and retain their speech and swallowing. The organization provides SPEAK OUT! Booklets, online SPEAK OUT! Home Practice Sessions, and a weekly Parkinson’s Sing-Along to complement the speech therapy they will receive at Spooner Health. The organization is headquartered in Richardson, Texas, and has trained over 11,500 SLPs and 16,600 students in more than 50 countries. For information, visit: www.ParkinsonVoiceProject.org.