Lee Silverman Voice Treatment Program ® for Parkinson’s Disease

Speech Pathology

Useful Management Information

  • The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment Program® (LSVT®) is the gold standard treatment for motor speech and voice problems secondary to Parkinson’s disease. The evidence shows that this program significantly increases vocal loudness and overall speech intelligibility.
  • Consider whether the patient has a package of care and if they have a level 3 or 4 package of care, please refer to a private speech pathology team/service.
  • As this clinic is intensive in nature, consider whether the patient will be able to attend outpatient clinic appointments regularly for sessions.

Minimum Referral Criteria

Category 1
  • No category 1 criteria
Category 2
  • Acquired dysarthrophonia whereby condition is likely to require more complex care if assessment and intervention is delayed or is preventing basic communication.
  • Indicators for this category:
    • Confirmed or suspected diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease.
    • Parkinsonism, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.
    • Deterioration in speech and voice function.
    • Co-occurring dysphagia that may also benefit from LSVT.
Category 3
  • Acquired dysarthrophonia whereby condition is unlikely to deteriorate quickly.
  • Indicators for this category:
    • Patients with other chronic or acquired dysarthrophonia, where the predominantly impaired speech sub-system is the phonatory system.
    • May include: Patients who have had a stroke, essential tremor and traumatic brain injury.
    • Dysarthrophonia has remained stable.

If your patient doesn't meet the minimum referral criteria

  • If the patient does not meet the criteria for referral but the referring practitioner believes the patient requires specialist review, a clinical override may be requested:
    • Please explain why (e.g. warning signs or symptoms, clinical modifiers, uncertain about diagnosis, etc.)
  • Please note that your referral may not be accepted or may be redirected to another service

Essential Referral Information

  • Clear reason for referral
  • History / Duration and list of symptom
  • Medical and social history and list of medications
  • Results of relevant medical assessments/investigations/management of condition

If a specific test result cannot be obtained due to access, financial, religious, cultural or consent reasons a clinical override may be requested. This reason must be clearly articulated in the body of the referral.

Additional Referral Information

  • Next of kin details
  • Patient awareness of referral
  • Any other health care professionals currently involved (e.g. other Allied Health Professionals, Health Clinicians)
  • Previous speech pathology or specialist assessment reports
Published 12 May 2021

Send Referrals To

Smart Referrals

Not available

Internal Referrals

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Fax

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Post

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Enquiries

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Service Availability

Facilities

Gold Coast University Hospital
Robina Hospital

If you would like to send a named referral, please address it to the specialist listed above, who will allocate a suitably qualified specialist to see the patient. Alternatively, you can view a full list of our specialists.

Gold Coast Health - For Clinicians
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