Parkinson's

Swallowing

80%+

of people with Parkinson’s experience swallowing difficulty at some point in the course of the disease.

cause of fatality in people with Parkinson's is aspiration pneumonia. Swallowing difficulty is a large contributing factor of aspiration pnuemonia in people with Parkinson's.

Don't wait, evaluate!

Research shows that the sooner a person with Parkinson’s disease receives a swallowing assessment + therapy, the longer they will be able to maintain their swallowing abilities. Early assessment can significantly reduce the risk of complications like aspiration pneumonia and support overall health and well-being. No matter how difficult your swallowing may be at this time, it's always a good idea to see a speech therapist as soon as possible.

How do I know if I'm having swallowing difficulty?

Choking/coughing while eating or drinking.
Avoiding foods because they are difficult to swallow such as bread, meat, rice, or fibrous vegetables.
Altering your food textures (e.g., cutting into tiny pieces, only eating soft foods, blending etc.).
Difficulty swallowing pills.
Stuck sensation in the throat.
Abnormally slow eating.

Unintentional weight loss

How can we help?

Reduce your risk of aspiration pneumonia.
Prevent further decline in swallowing function.
Improve swallowing abilities with strengthening exercises—like physical therapy for your mouth and throat muscles—and effective compensatory strategies.

About

Speech + Voice

89%

of people with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience a speech and voice disorder at some point in the course of the disease.

Our Clinic

Don't wait, evaluate!

Specializing in cognitive therapy for mild cognitive impairment, we help individuals improve cognitive functions and enhance quality of life.

The sooner a person with PD receives speech therapy the more they are able to:

Preserve communication skills
Slow the deterioration of speech AND swallowing abilities
Enhance their quality of life
Compensate for speech and voice difficulties

Did you know?

Both of our speech therapists, Shannon and Allison, are certified in the speech and voice program, SPEAK OUT!. This program is considered to be a gold standard in speech and voice treatment for people with PD. SPEAK OUT! has been shown to help people maintain normal speech and voice abilities for 15+ years.

SPEAK OUT! info

What are signs of speech and voice difficulty?

You have a quiet, monotone, breathy and/or hoarse voice as well as slurred speech.

Your partner complains that they can’t hear you.

People have a hard time hearing you in places with background noise.

1. Slow Cognitive Decline

The therapy we provide can help slow the progression of communication difficulties by strengthening existing language abilities and cognitive skills before significant decline occurs. Studies suggest that engaging in cognitive-communication therapy before symptoms become severe leads to better long-term outcomes.

2. Improve Communication

We work with individuals and care partners to develop strategies to improve communication. These strategies help maintain effective communication for as long as possible.

3. Enhancing Quality of Life & Social Engagement

Our services can also help individuals and their care partners stay socially engaged, reducing frustration and isolation caused by communication difficulties. Research shows that staying connected can slow cognitive decline and improve overall well-being.

4. Care partner Training & Support

We also provide education and training for care partners, helping them learn how to communicate effectively and adapt to their loved one's changing needs. This support can reduce stress and improves the overall caregiving experience.

6. Maximizing Neuroplasticity

Engaging in structured therapy can help individuals retain and compensate for lost skills more effectively.

Parkinson's Resources

Spark Rehab + Wellness

Sagebrush Speech Therapy partners with Spark Rehab + Wellness, a physical therapy and occupational therapy clinic in Bend that specializes Parkinson's. Just like speech therapy, proactive physical therapy and occupational therapy evaluation and consistent monitoring of motor skills like walking, are vital to maintaining quality of life.

Parkinson's Resources of Oregon

Parkinson's Resources of Oregon (PRO) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals living with Parkinson’s disease, as well as their families and caregivers. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for those affected by Parkinson’s through education, wellness programs, support services, and advocacy. Reach out to May Mobbs, the Central Oregon Program Coordinator at 541.668.6599.

https://www.parkinsonsresources.org/

Bend Parkinson's Support Group

PRO offers a monthly support group for individuals and their care partners. Meetings are every third Wednesday of the month from 2:00-3:30 pm. The meetings are at Partners in Care 2611 NE Courtney Dr Bend, OR 97701. Contact May Mobbs, the Central Oregon Program Coordinator at 541.668.6599 for more questions.

Redmond Parkinson's Support Group

PRO offers a monthly support group for individuals and their care partners in Redmond. Meetings are first Thursday of the month from 1:00-2:30 pm. The meetings are at Community Presbyterian Church is at 529 NW 19th St Redmond, OR 97756. Contact Ginny Weeber, the support group leader at weebs2@bendbroadband.com for more questions.

Parkinson's Caregivers Support Group

This is an informal group with no set agenda. We meet the needs of our friends when they need it. This group meets Fridays 9:30-11:30 am at Partners In Care 2611 NE Courtney Dr. Bend, OR 97701. Contact Mary Jo at 541-693-4488 or stop by Partners in Care for more information.

SPEAK OUT! Home Practice Sessions

Join a SPEAK OUT! speech therapist LIVE Monday – Friday at 10 AM U.S. Central Time via link below. You can also watch and participate in sessions that have already been recorded if you cannot make it.

SPEAK OUT! live + recorded sessions

Fitness for Parkinson's

Exercise for Parkinson’s PWR

Tuesdays and Thursdays 1-2 PM

First Presbyterian’s church

Nancy Nelson

503-799-5311

nancyn.pdex@gmail.com

Dance for Parkinson's

Mondays at 9:30-10:45 am

First Presbyterian Church

Kimberly Walter

503-421-7374

kimberlywalter00@gmail.com

Rock Steady (Boxing for Parkinson’s)

Classes are held twice a week at the High Desert Martial Arts Club.

Call or email Steve for specific days and times.

541-706-0424

steveutzman@icloud.com

Impact PD (Parkinson’s exercise class)

Tuesdays and Thursdays

9:15 am - 10:30 am

High Desert Martial Arts

Virtual PD Exercise

Tuesdays and Thursdays

9:15-10:15 Virtual

Go to https://www.parkinsonsresources.org/ and click “calendar” for more information

Go to https://www.parkinsonsresources.org/ and click “calendar” for local and virtual events details

541-204-1757