Reclaiming Identity Through the Power of Speech
by JESSICA STENSRUD
Preserving a voice means preserving life as it was once known. Especially in Nebraska, where Parkinson’s disease rates are among the highest in the nation.
Nearly 90% of those diagnosed with Parkinson’s will develop a motor speech disorder. Voices can grow soft. Words might blur. Swallowing becomes more difficult. Once easy to have, conversations can become frustrating and lead to isolation. Yet only a small percentage of patients ever receive speech therapy.
At UNO, that reality is changing.
Inside Roskens Hall, UNO’s Speech-Language Clinic is the state’s official SPEAK OUT!® Therapy and Research Center, offering no-cost therapy to Nebraskans living with Parkinson’s. Funded through a grant from Parkinson Voice Project®, the program removes barriers that often prevent patients from seeking care, such as insurance limitations, financial strain, and long commutes in rural communities. Therapy is offered both in person and online, extending access statewide.
“It means everyone in the state gets access to the program,” says UNO professor of special education and communication disorders and a Certified SPEAK OUT!® Provider, Lucia Scheffel, Ph.D. “Research shows that 90% of people with Parkinson’s disease develop a motor speech disorder, yet only 4% ever receive speech therapy. The UNO Speech and Language Clinic removes barriers for Nebraskans.”
Parkinson’s can “shut down” the small, precise movements necessary for speech. Voices may become monotone or breathy. Patients often report constantly being asked to repeat themselves. Over time, many withdraw from phone calls, social gatherings or ordering a meal at a restaurant. Communication challenges can lead to isolation and depression.
SPEAK OUT! Therapy trains individuals to speak with intention, to project, articulate and breathe with purpose. Therapy begins one-on-one and continues in group sessions to build life skills.
“Because Parkinson’s is progressive, consistency is key,” says Dr. Scheffel. “Patients learn a new speech pattern and practice it continuously to retain their gains.”
For Dave Arneson, who discovered the program at a Parkinson’s convention, the results have been life changing.
“My wife, my boys and my neurologist have all noticed an improvement in my speaking,” he shared. “Since starting the sessions, I’ve experienced less choking. I was reluctant to start a speech program, but I’ve been ecstatic about my progress.”
He credits both faculty and student clinicians for creating a supportive, motivating environment.
“I look forward to the group sessions and continuing to improve,” he said.
The exercises have become second nature, even while sleeping. “The other night, my wife woke me up because I was practicing ‘may, me, my, moe, moo’ in my dream,” he said.
The program’s impact is just as meaningful for UNO students.
“Graduate clinicians complete specialized training before working with patients, gaining hands-on experience that prepares them to serve communities across Nebraska after graduation,” says Dr. Scheffel. “Many carry this expertise into hospitals, clinics and skilled nursing facilities statewide, extending the program’s reach.”
As National Parkinson’s Awareness Month in April approaches, the message is clear: preserving a voice is about more than speech. It’s about dignity, identity and connection – and work that goes far beyond the clinic walls.
The SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program, developed by the nonprofit organization Parkinson Voice Project, helps people with Parkinson’s and related disorders regain and retain their speech and swallowing.
