07/09/2026
I am excited to share that I am now an LSVT Loud Practitioner. LSVT Loud an intensive, evidence-based speech therapy protocol designed to increase vocal loudness and improve communication for individuals with Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions
One day I started hearing the same thing over and over again.
“I can’t hear you.”
The strange part was that I honestly thought I was speaking normally.
I wasn’t whispering on purpose. I wasn’t trying to be quiet. In my mind, my voice sounded just fine. But the people around me were hearing something completely different.
That’s a very common experience for people living with Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s can affect the muscles we use to breathe, speak, and project our voice. Over time, many of us begin speaking more softly without even realizing it. Family members become frustrated because they’re constantly asking us to repeat ourselves, while we’re left wondering why no one seems to hear us.
The good news is that we don’t have to simply accept it.
There are several excellent speech therapy programs designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s, including LSVT LOUD®, SPEAK OUT!®, The Parkinson Voice Project, and others. These programs focus on improving vocal volume, speech clarity, breathing, and communication confidence.
I can personally recommend one of them because I’ve been through it myself.
I completed The Parkinson Voice Project, and it was one of the most helpful things I’ve done for my voice. It taught me practical exercises that strengthened my voice and helped me understand something I had never realized before: my brain thought I was speaking loudly enough when I really wasn’t.
Like any exercise program, it takes commitment and practice. Some of the exercises may even feel a little unusual at first. But just as we exercise our bodies to fight back against Parkinson’s, we also have to exercise our voice. If we stop using it, it can become weaker. If we continue working it, we’re giving ourselves the best opportunity to keep communicating with the people we love.
I still have Parkinson’s, and my voice isn’t perfect. But I truly believe it’s stronger today than it would have been if I had never completed the program.
If you’ve noticed your voice becoming softer, raspy, or more difficult for others to hear, don’t wait. Talk with your neurologist or primary care provider about seeing a speech-language pathologist. Starting early gives you the best opportunity to maintain your voice for years to come.
Our voices matter. They help us tell our stories, laugh with our families, encourage our friends, and simply be heard. Parkinson’s may make that harder, but it doesn’t mean we should stop trying.
I’d love to hear from you. Has Parkinson’s changed your voice? Have you ever participated in a speech or voice therapy program? If so, what was your experience? Your story may be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.
