The Voice – Mary’s Blog

Swallowing-Breathing Coordination in Parkinson’s and Respiratory Muscle Training

Breathing and swallowing share a common pathway, making the timing and co-ordination extremely important. Breathing is inhibited before and during the swallow, and this cessation of breathing is accomplished by closure of the vocal folds, that also serve as the last...

June is Dysphagia and Aphasia Awareness Month: take the quiz

Dysphagia and Aphasia are sound alike medical terms and the symptoms sometimes occur in the same patient, particularly following a stroke, but while the meanings are quite different, the impact on quality of life is equally devastating for some people. Dysphagia,...

Drooling: a troublesome problem for some people with Parkinson’s disease

Drooling, can be an embarrassing and annoying problem for individuals with a neurodegenerative disease, and a fairly common complaint I hear from patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is: “I have too much saliva.” Whether the problem is one of excessive saliva or...

2019 Scholarship Winner Amy Roth

The Voice Aerobics® graduate student scholarship is awarded annually to a student who demonstrates character traits and intention to make a positive contribution to the field of Speech-Language Pathology. The 2019 recipient is Amy Roth, a graduate student at Cleveland...

For Better or Worse: Could Speech and Hearing Problems Affect Your Relationships?

Better Hearing and Speech Month Each May, Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM) provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication and swallowing disorders and the role ASHA certified Speech-language Pathologists and Audiologists have in providing...

NEW! Voice Aerobics Grand Slam Fun Speech Practice in the Palm of Your Hand

A challenge for many people with Parkinson's is finding the time for speech practice. So, a part of the mission here at Voice Aerobics, is creating fun products and programs that can be used by patients any time and anywhere. In 2010,Grand Slam© joined the family of...

Parkinson’s “sufferers” and other words we hate to use

A friend of mine has a two year old with a recent diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. I asked her how it felt to have her child labeled autistic. Was it scary? Was it a relief to have a name attached to his symptoms? Did it help with funding for services? Her...

Aspiration Pneumonia and the Perfect Storm

A swallowing problem which includes aspiration is a fear of many individuals with a neurodegenerative disease diagnosis such as Parkinson's Disease (PD) or related disorders such as PSP or MSA. (pulmonary aspiration is defined as the entry of material (saliva, food or...

Are you really talking “TOO LOUD” or is Parkinson’s messin’ with your head?

Behavioral speech therapy interventions for individuals with Parkinson’s disease typically focus on increasing the amplitude of voice and speech production. Most patients’ typical response to an increase in loudness during the early weeks of therapy is almost always a...

“Exorcise” the Obstacles to Exercise * Accepting 2019 Student Scholarship Applications

I have been wondering what it is about exercising that so many people resist. From time to time I have patients look me squarely in the eye and admit that it’s unlikely they will perform any recommended exercise once they leave my office. Now, while I appreciate...

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Mary Spremulli of Voice Aerobics writes a monthly news article in the “Healthy Body” section of Florida Weekly

July 2018, Healthy Hearing and Speech, cover story – Healthy Body, “Florida Weekly’s monthly guide for healthy people inside and out”
July 2018 article – Augmented feedback and skill learning help patients recalibrate

Home Programs & Training:

Voice Aerobics® – 3-Part Workout
SpeechVive Device for Persons with Parkinson’s
Lingraphica® Aphasia Communication Device
Constant Therapy App for aphasia
Computerized Home Aphasia Therapy Program (CHAT®)
Passy-Muir® Tracheostomy and Ventilator Swallowing and Speaking Valve

SpeechVive Device for Persons with Parkinson’s
Ask me about your VA benefit for this device!

SPEAK OUT!® Speech Therapy for Parkinson’s patients

Mary Spremulli is Certified in:

Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) Lessac-Madsen Resonant Voice Treatment (LMRVT) Neurodevelopmental Treatment

A Certified Member of ASHA Certified Member