Cutline: Pictured is Christy Dukes, SLP, Director of Plumley Rehab at Henry County Healthcare Center. Dukes recently received her LSVT LOUD certification, a specialty rehab that is done both outpatient and inpatient for those with Parkinson’s Disease and other neurological disorders.

PARIS, TN – Henry County Medical Center is proud to announce that Christy Dukes, MS,CCC-SLP, Director of Plumley Rehab at Henry County Healthcare Center has completed her certification as a LSVT LOUD Therapist for inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation.

LSVT LOUD is the first speech treatment with level one evidence and established efficacy for treating voice and speech disorders in people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) with application to other neurological disorders. The LSVT Programs have been developed and scientifically researched over the past 25 years with funding from the National Institutes of Health.

Research on LSVT LOUD has documented improved impact on multiple levels of functioning in people with Parkinson’s Disease following treatment including:

Increased vocal loudness
Improved articulation and speech intelligibility
Improved intonation
Improvements in facial expression
Changes in neural functioning related to voice and speech

Over 24,000 speech therapists from 70 countries have been certified in LSVT LOUD. Henry County Medical Center is proud to have Christy Dukes certified to serve Henry County and the region. Henry County Healthcare Center welcomes not just skilled inpatients but also outpatients from the community. LSVT LOUD therapy is not a program exclusively for patients at HCHC. HCHC is happy to assist patients by corresponding with your insurance company to determine the cost.

“I am very excited for this opportunity to assist people with Parkinson’s Disease in meeting their daily communication goals. Communication is often a skill that is overlooked,” said Christy Dukes, MS, CCC-SLP “People with Parkinson’s often have very low vocal loudness affecting the way they communicate their wants and needs. Often times, we see the person withdrawing from social situations and conversation because others can’t hear them or speech isn’t clear. With the LSVT clinical treatment, along with daily homework, I hope to improve communication skills so the person with Parkinson’s can join in!”

LSVT LOUD is a standardized treatment protocol that is customized to the unique communication goals of each person across a range of disease severity and communication impairments.

LSVT LOUD treatment consists of:

16 sessions: four consecutive days a week for four weeks
Individual one hour sessions
Daily homework practice
Daily carryover exercises

“We are very proud of Christy for wanting to expand her skills and offer this specialty rehab service to both patients at HCHC but also those in the community who need it on an outpatient basis,” said Sandra Ray, Administrator of HCHC. “Christy has a heart for her patients and saw a need and took it upon herself to meet that need. We can’t wait to have patients utilizing this service in our region.”

HCHC Plumley Rehab is excited to offer this new outpatient or inpatient therapy along with the other therapies available at our facility. Plumley Rehabilitation Center focuses on rehabilitation for post-surgical patients, stroke patients as well as patients who may have developed weakness and functional loss due to other medical conditions or traumas. Our speech, physical and occupational therapists work together with physicians to provide a fully integrated team approach to help patients achieve their full potential.

For more information on LSVT Loud, Plumley Rehab or other rehab services at Henry County Healthcare Center go to our website at www.hcmc-tn.org or call HCHC at 731-642-5700.

About Henry County Healthcare Center
Henry County Healthcare Center is a 136-bed facility providing skilled and intermediate care with an emphasis on rehabilitation services through the Plumley Rehabilitation Center located at 239 Hospital Circle in Paris. For more information: www.hcmc-tn.org.

About Henry County Medical Center
Located in Paris, TN, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Additionally, HCMC owns and operates 7 provider clinics in various specialties. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: www.hcmc-tn.org.