The Voice – Mary’s Blog
When Medications Become Unaffordable
This week a patient with Parkinson's disease told me that his insurance would not pay for a much needed medication. This is not the first time I have had a patient tell me that a necessary medication has become unaffordable. It just so happened that this week I...
Parkinson’s Awareness Month: Speak UP and See the Light!
Anywhere from 70-90% of persons with Parkinson’s have speech and voice problems, collectively referred to as hypokinetic dysarthria. Problems of reduced loudness, reduced effort, and inaccurate feedback are also related to a breakdown in the multisensory integration...
Not Wearing Hearing Aids: Bad for Brain and Relationships
For 30 years of practice in Florida, I have had hundreds of couples in my office with a similar complaint: "he/she doesn't speak loud enough and he/she doesn't hear." Since so much of my practice is devoted to serving people with Parkinson's disease and related...
Prayer to St Blaise: Strengthen our Throats-remembering Kate Kelsall
This post is published each year in February, as a memory of my dear friend, Kate Kelsall. A blogger, a wife, a dear friend, and my muse. She taught me so much about living with Parkinson's as she lived each day with determination, purpose, and her dancing shoes. Can...
Speaking, Singing and Parkinson’s: Why can some people do one but not the other?
In my weekly speech class for persons with Parkinson’s (PWP), a member asked why some people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have difficulty speaking and yet, may be able to sing with relative clarity. I hypothesized that one reason is the difference in areas of the...
The 12 Days of PD Speech Therapy: A Christmas Carol
On the 1st day of treatment, a patient said to me I ‘m here for some speech therapy. On the 2nd day of treatment, a patient said to me, my wife can’t hear me, so I’m here for some speech therapy. On the 3rd day of treatment, a patient said to me, I have a problem, my...
You are So Much More than a Diagnosis
I have a telehealth patient that self-referred to me approximately five weeks ago requesting voice treatment for some symptoms related to Parkinson's disease. Each visit, we review progress, and then typically get right to work. I always know a little bit about the...
Running out of Breath? Dyskinesia Can Effect Breathing and Speech in Parkinson’s Disease #4
Dyskinesia (uncontrolled involuntary movements that can look like fidgeting or swaying of arms, legs, oral-facial, or trunk muscles) are unfortunately a common experience for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Dyskinesia are associated with long term use of...
Resilience: Coping after a Hurricane and events that rock your world.
The last few weeks have been challenging for me, my patients, LOUD Crowd members, and my friends and neighbors living in SW Florida following hurricane Ian. For me, it was the second Category 4 hurricane that has affected the community where I live and work, and to...
Collecting Voice Data at a Distance: VoiceEvalU8
Although I have offered Online Coaching for over 10 years, the onset of the pandemic in 2020, ushered in a whole new world of telehealth, including the ability of patients to access speech therapy treatment from the comfort of their home. Programs that I offer in...
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 