Hundreds of people with Parkinson鈥檚 have brought their voices back to life through a unique program in North Texas.
Walk through the halls of The in Richardson, and you鈥檙e likely to hear yelling, counting, or singing.
These are the sounds of people with Parkinson鈥檚 reclaiming their voices.
Along the beige walls, silver letters spell out inspiring quotations from graduates 鈥� 鈥淚鈥檓 back in charge,鈥� and 鈥淢y grand-kids can understand me.鈥�
鈥淧eople don鈥檛 realize that when you lose the ability to speak, you can鈥檛 laugh,鈥� says founder and speech-language pathologist Samantha Elandary. 鈥淵ou try but no sound will come out.鈥�
Parkinson鈥檚 disease makes it difficult to coordinate routine muscle movements, like walking, blinking and talking. And while medication can reduce some symptoms, physical and speech therapy are important parts of treatment.
Getting Vocal
Elandary started the non-profit Parkinson Voice Project from her home in the 90s. Today, it鈥檚 an international destination.
鈥淚f people with Parkinson鈥檚 go through intensive voice therapy and they keep up with it, then the can keep their voices strong for many, many years,鈥� she says.
"The challenge is that Medicare and insurance doesn鈥檛 cover maintenance therapy. That鈥檚 why across the country people are going through therapy but the results aren鈥檛 lasting.鈥�
Which is why the Parkinson Voice Project started a follow up voice group for patients after they complete the four weeks of intensive coaching.
The Loud Crowd
There are more than 400 members in the Loud Crowd. Jason Arwine, 35, is one of them.
鈥淚 was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson鈥檚 October 31st of 2012, I like to say, and I got a trick instead of a treat that day,鈥� he says.
Arwine was 33-when he got the news. Parkinson鈥檚 often associated with older people, but about 10 percent diagnoses are under the age of age 50.
The disease makes it difficult to coordinate routine muscle movements, like talking, blinking and walking.
There鈥檚 no cure, but if you can keep your muscles strong through dedication diligence and practice.
Arwine, a Marine, took on the challenge.
鈥淚f I鈥檓 going to go for something I鈥檓 going to go 100 gusto,鈥� Arwine says. 鈥淪o I gave it my all and it鈥檚 done nothing but benefit me.鈥�
Arwine practices speaking with intent 鈥� that鈥檚 the non-profit鈥檚 mantra 鈥� with his wife Heather, reading sports blogs out loud, even with their French bulldog. Before, Arwine says his speech was very monotone, and his wife had trouble hearing him.
鈥淣ow, I鈥檓 back to what I call my military voice,鈥� he says, 鈥� Clear, concise, recognizable.鈥�
Spreading The Word
The Parkinson Voice Project now trains speech pathologists across the country and will have an online version early next year.
Therapy is provided at no charge, through a pay-it-forward system. This helps patients like Jason Arwine, who have to pay hundreds of dollars every month for Parkinson鈥檚 medications.
