KEARNEY – Parkinson’s is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease, impacting more than 10 million people worldwide and nearly 1 million people within the United States.
Most of those individuals experience speech and voice disorders that can make it difficult to communicate and interact with others.
Through the SPEAK OUT! Therapy Program, the University of Nebraska at Kearney Department of Communication Disorders is working with Parkinson’s clients to improve their communication skills and enhance their quality of life.
Developed by the nonprofit Parkinson Voice Project, the program helps people with Parkinson’s and related neurological disorders regain and retain their speech and swallowing. This highly effective, evidence-based treatment combines education, individual and group speech therapy, daily home practice and continuous follow-ups. Clients are empowered to “speak with intent,” transitioning speech from an automatic function to an intentional act.
“Up to 90% of people with Parkinson’s are at risk of losing their ability to speak. In addition, swallowing complications account for 70% of the mortality rate in this patient population. Our vision at Parkinson Voice Project is to make quality speech therapy accessible to people with Parkinson’s worldwide,” said Samantha Elandary, the nonprofit’s founder and chief executive officer.
UNK was awarded grant funding from Parkinson Voice Project in March 2024 to offer this therapy at no cost to clients through the Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic on campus. The Department of Communication Disorders has five certified SPEAK OUT! providers, and more than 50 graduate students in the speech-language pathology program have received the training.
“The SPEAK OUT! program has been invaluable to both UNK and our community. While our primary mission is to train the next generation of speech-language pathologists, this program also allows us to give back to the community in a meaningful way. Every person has important thoughts to express and stories to share, and we are committed to helping individuals with Parkinson’s disease maintain their voice and stay engaged with the people and moments that matter most,” said Crystal Hinrichs, a lecturer, clinical educator and certified SPEAK OUT! provider who oversees the program at UNK.
Since August 2024, the Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic has completed nearly 60 individual sessions for seven people from the Kearney and surrounding areas.
After an initial evaluation, clients participate in eight one-on-one sessions with UNK student clinicians focused on restoring vocal intensity and improving communication skills through a series of targeted exercises. The program also includes a group therapy component, which started in February with six participants. SPEAK OUT! was created as a lifelong support system, so participants have regular check-ins every three to six months to evaluate their progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed.
In addition to the benefits it brings to participants, the therapy program provides hands-on clinical education for speech-language pathology students who will soon work in this field.
“Providing SPEAK OUT! therapy to clients with Parkinson’s has been such a meaningful learning experience,” said Marlee Nebesniak, a graduate student clinician from Ord. “It’s incredibly empowering to be part of their journey and to support their communication in a way that truly impacts their daily lives. Being part of that progress has reminded me why I chose this field. Watching their confidence grow and seeing how even small victories in voice can lead to greater independence has been deeply rewarding. It’s an honor to walk alongside them and witness firsthand the resilience and strength they bring to each session.”
“The Kearney community has created a really tight-knit group of individuals with Parkinson’s where everyone supports each other, and it’s incredible to see the progress each client makes,” added Kenzie Hurlbert, a graduate student clinician from Holdrege. “Working directly with people with Parkinson’s has shown me how powerful communication really is and how much of a difference we can make as future speech-language pathologists.”
The UNK Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic plans to continue offering the SPEAK OUT! program beyond the current academic year. Therapy services are available in person and via telehealth for clients across Nebraska. New clients who are interested in joining the program can contact office coordinator Kim Panowicz at 308-865-8300 or [email protected].
“I am so thankful for this opportunity from the Parkinson Voice Project, as it provides our students with unique clinical experiences and allows us to give back to individuals with Parkinson’s in our community,” Hinrichs said. “One aspect that multiple clients who have participated in the program have shared with me is their increased confidence in communication. Helping someone find their voice again doesn’t just change how they speak, it transforms how they live.”
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