Special to Iredell Free News
Caroline Goodson, a speech-language pathologist with Iredell Health System’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Center, recently became certified in the individual speech therapy program that helps Parkinson’s disease patients retain or regain communication and swallowing skills — skills that are often lost as a result of the disease.
The SPEAK OUT! program, developed by the nonprofit organization Parkinson Voice Project, emphasizes speaking with intent and converts speech from an automatic movement to an intentional act.
After many years helping patients with Parkinson’s disease, Goodson was excited to learn of the evidence-based program that would help her patients make gains quickly through structured, daily tasks.
“The ability to communicate wants, ideas and feelings is a very important, basic human need that I am happy to help people retain while living with degenerative disease,” Goodson said.
Patients complete speech, voice, and cognitive exercises with Goodson at each 45-minute session.
Typically requiring three weekly sessions for one month and follow-ups as needed, the program provides patients with relatively fast results.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. Ninety percent of people with Parkinson’s are at risk of developing a weak voice that can lead to serious speech and swallowing problems. Common characteristics include reduced volume, hoarse voice quality, chronic throat clearing, trailing off at the end of sentences, and swallowing difficulty.
Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year, and there are approximately 24,000 Parkinson’s patients in North Carolina.
LEARN MORE
To learn more about the SPEAK OUT! program, call 704-878-4530.
About Iredell Health System
Iredell Health System includes Iredell Memorial Hospital; Iredell Home Health; Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center; Community and Corporate Wellness; Occupational Medicine; the Iredell Physician Network and more. Iredell Memorial Hospital is the largest and only nonprofit hospital in Iredell County. The comprehensive healthcare facility has 247 beds; more than 1,700 employees; and has 260 physicians representing various specialties. Centers of excellence include Women’s and Children’s; Cardiovascular; Cancer; Surgical Services and Wellness & Prevention. The mission of Iredell Health System is to inspire wellbeing. For a comprehensive list of services and programs, visit www.iredellhealth.org.