Speech therapy helps people of all ages improve their communication skills. It can support clearer speech, better understanding and use of language, and stronger social interaction. Therapy may also help with voice, fluency, or swallowing difficulties, depending on individual needs.
LSVT Loud
LSVT LOUD® (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD) is an intensive, evidence-based speech therapy program specifically developed to improve voice and communication in individuals with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions. It is the gold standard treatment for addressing hypophonia—a soft or weak voice—which is a common symptom in people with Parkinson’s and similar disorders. LSVT LOUD trains individuals to speak louder, with clearer articulation, improved vocal quality, and greater confidence. The program doesn't just teach someone to shout—it helps recalibrate their internal perception of volume, so that speaking at a normal level feels natural and is consistently used in daily life. LSVT LOUD must be delivered by a certified speech-language pathologist trained in the method. It is often used alongside LSVT BIG®, a physical therapy program targeting motor movement in individuals with Parkinson’s.
TOTS
TOTs stands for Tethered Oral Tissues, a term used to describe restricted movement of the lips, tongue, or cheeks due to tight or short oral tissues like the lingual frenulum (under the tongue), labial frenulum (under the lip), or buccal ties (inside the cheeks). These restrictions can impact feeding, speech, breathing, dental development, and oral motor function in both children and adults.
Common signs and symptoms may include:
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Difficulty breastfeeding or bottle feeding in infants
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Speech delays or unclear speech in children
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Mouth breathing, snoring, or sleep-disordered breathing
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Dental issues such as gaps or crowding
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Difficulty with chewing, swallowing, or oral hygiene
Treatment often involves a team approach, including speech-language pathologists, lactation consultants, bodywork therapists, and dental or medical professionals. Therapy focuses on improving oral function before and after a potential release procedure (frenectomy or frenuloplasty), supporting optimal movement and long-term outcomes.
Feeding and Swallowing
A feeding and swallowing specialist is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who has advanced training in evaluating and treating individuals with feeding and swallowing difficulties, also known as dysphagia. SLPs in this role assess how well a person chews, swallows, and manages different food and liquid textures, using both clinical observations and specialized tools such as videofluoroscopic swallow studies when needed. They treat a wide range of patients, from infants with difficulties latching or transitioning to solids, to children with oral-motor or sensory-based feeding issues, to adults with swallowing problems due to stroke, neurological conditions, or surgery.
Treatment is tailored to each individual and may include exercises to strengthen muscles used in swallowing, strategies to improve safety and coordination during meals, and modifications to food and liquid consistency. The primary goals are to support safe and effective eating and drinking, prevent complications like aspiration, and ensure proper nutrition and hydration. Feeding and swallowing therapy provided by a speech-language pathologist plays a vital role in improving quality of life and overall health for those with dysphagia.