New Speech Therapy Program For Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease At Hackensack Meridian Johnson Rehabilitation Institute at Ocean University Medical Center

Hackensack Meridian Johnson Rehabilitation Institute at Ocean University Medical Center is pleased to announce its newest programs,  SPEAK OUT!® & The LOUD Crowd®. These two programs are being offered to our patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) to promote “speaking with intent." 

SPEAK OUT!® & The LOUD Crowd® is a clinically-proven speech therapy approach for individuals with Parkinson's. The program helps patients regain and maintain their speaking abilities with a combination of education, individual speech therapy, daily home practice, group sessions, and regular re-assessments.

“We are excited to bring this program to Johnson Rehabilitation Institute at Ocean University Medical Center,” said Dr. Sara Cuccurullo, chair, medical director, vice president, JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute.

“Up to 90% of people with Parkinson’s are at high risk of losing their ability to speak, and swallowing complications account for 70% of the mortality rate in this patient population” according to Parkinson Voice Project’s Founder, Samantha Elandary. 

• SPEAK OUT!® is an individual treatment program led by a certified speech language pathologist. A speech language pathologist must obtain ten training hours to be an eligible SPEAK OUT! provider. This treatment combines education and individual speech therapy to convert speech from an automatic function to an intentional act. Upon completion of individual therapy, patients transition to the LOUD Crowd.
• The LOUD Crowd® provides accountability and education through weekly group sessions led by a certified speech language pathologist. SPEAK OUT! exercises are performed and participants practice speaking with intent. As an added bonus, this maintenance program promotes camaraderie and provides support and encouragement. 

SPEAK OUT!® treatment sessions need to be scheduled in advance. The LOUD Crowd® group session runs once a week and is currently the only offered group in Ocean County! 

For more information, contact our Speech Language Pathologists at, 732-836-4549/4544 or to schedule an appointment, please contact our outpatient scheduler, 732-836-4640.