Because a loss of communication skills does not only affect the patient, the USC Speech & Hearing Center offers services for family members and friends, both individually and in groups (see Support Groups).

For more information, contact Dr. Julius Fridriksson, Dr. Elaine Frank, Dr. Charles Adams, or Sarah Scarborough.

Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT®) for persons with Parkinson’s Disease.

The USC Speech & Hearing Center currently offers the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment for individuals with Parkinson’s whose speech has become difficult to understand. The LSVT® is an efficacious voice/speech treatment protocol that was specifically developed for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

The LSVT® utilizes high respiratory and phonatory effort to improve voice and speech function without promoting hyper-function. Recent research supports the use of LSVT with other types of dysarthria.

The LSVT® is administered on an intensive schedule of 16 individual one-hour sessions in one month (4 days per week.) The treatment protocol focuses on improving loudness and on immediate carryover to daily communication, enabling patients to maintain and/or improve their oral communication even after treatment.

Six months from completion of the LSVT® program, clients are asked to return for a re-evaluation. A re-assessment by the ENT may also be recommended at that time.

For more information, contact Sarah Scarborough.