What is SPEAK OUT! & LOUD Crowd?

SPEAK OUT! is a therapy program tailored to people with Parkinson’s disease to improve their voicing, and in turn, their swallowing. Within treatment sessions, speech is transformed from an automatic function to an intentional task. SPEAK OUT! is often completed in 12 sessions spanning four weeks, and then the client transitions to the LOUD Crowd. In this four-week span, clients report improvement in their speaking, their ability to be heard, and their overall quality of life.

LOUD Crowd is the group therapy portion of the program and meets once weekly. The sessions provide maintenance for skills obtained during SPEAK OUT! and are a source of camaraderie for the members. The Robbins Speech and Hearing Center offers LOUD Crowd for free to SPEAK OUT! graduates.

The SPEAK OUT! & LOUD Crowd therapy regimens were developed at Parkinson Voice Project in Richardson, TX.  You can visit their website HERE.

When and where can I receive services?

All sessions occur at Robbins Speech Language and Hearing Center, or virtually through telepractice. The Robbins Center schedule follows the Emerson College academic calendar.

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! & LOUD Crowd 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! & LOUD Crowd requires you to use the muscles for speaking and swallowing to their full potential to prevent decline.

What costs are associated with these services?

SPEAK OUT! and LOUD Crowd are a free services offered at the Robbins Center.

Want to learn more or request an application? Contact us at Robbins_Center@emerson.edu or

(617) 824-8323