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Medina Regional Hospital Rehabilitation Department is pleased to announce that Diane Meyer, Speech Therapist, and Monica Mendez, Physical Therapist, have completed the requirements for certification as LSVT Loud® and LSVT Big ® clinicians.

LSVT Loud® is a speech treatment for individuals with Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions that impact vocal loudness, intonation and voice quality.

LSVT Big® is a physical therapy treatment for individuals with Parkinson's disease, and has shown to improve coordination of movements and balance.

Treatments delivered by LSVT Certified Clinicians consist of the following:

• Four consecutive LSVT LOUD or LSVT BIG session a week, for four consecutive weeks
• Sessions are individual one-hour treatment sessions
• Daily homework practice (all 30 days of the month)
• Daily carryover assignments (all 30 days of the month)
• A singular focus on Amplitude (increased loudness in speech; bigger whole body movements)
• A focus on sensory recalibration to assist in generalization of increased loudness and bigger movements outside the treatment room

The goal of LSVT Big® therapy is patients will learn to use their “big movements” automatically, in everyday living. This will be a result of long term carry-over of the amplitude training. By maintaining larger movements, patients will move better, with greater confidence and improved safety. Similarly, with the LSVT-LOUD program, patients maintain improved speech patterns and volume.  Together, LSVT can help improve quality of life and potentially reduce the burden of care for people with Parkinson's disease. 

For more information about the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and the LSVT therapy services at Medina Regional Hospital, contact the Rehabilitation Department at 830.426.7888.

Outpatient therapy services usually require a physician’s order.  Talk to your doctor about your concerns and ask if an evaluation is appropriate.  A doctor’s “order” or prescription for therapy services usually requires a pre-authorization or referral from your insurance company.  Once the referral is received, the rehabilitation department will call to schedule a time for your evaluation. Treatment is most effective when started soon after diagnosis of Parkinson disease.