When speaking becomes difficult, the right support makes a difference.
Motor speech disorders caused by Parkinson’s disease, stroke, brain injury, or other neurological conditions are treatable. Arbutus Speech Therapy provides community-based SLP care across Vancouver and BC.
Who We Help
Motor speech disorders can follow many neurological events
Motor speech disorders affect the muscles and motor pathways that control speech. The two main types are dysarthria, caused by weakness or reduced coordination of speech muscles, and apraxia, which involves difficulty planning and sequencing the movements speech requires. Both can arise from a range of neurological conditions and both are treatable with speech therapy.
Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease commonly affects voice volume, speech rate, and clarity. Our team has the specialized training to deliver Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT LOUD), a research-backed intensive programme developed specifically for Parkinson’s. Therapy focuses on voice loudness, articulation, and functional communication.
Stroke or brain injury
Stroke, traumatic brain injury, and anoxic brain injury can each affect the speech motor system. Changes can range from mild articulation differences to significant intelligibility challenges. Speech therapy is most effective when started early in recovery, and continues to produce meaningful gains well beyond the acute phase.
Progressive neurological conditions
Multiple sclerosis, ALS, Huntington’s disease, and other progressive neurological conditions can all affect speech over time. Therapy focuses on maintaining speech function as long as possible, developing communication strategies, and supporting transitions to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) when appropriate.
Our Approach
Therapy built around your goals and your situation
Motor speech therapy looks different depending on the underlying condition, how long ago it began, and what is most affecting your daily life. An assessment maps how speech is impacted, which patterns are present, and where the biggest opportunities for improvement are.
Goals are shaped by what matters to you: being understood more easily, managing voice fatigue, maintaining speech function over time, or integrating AAC tools into everyday communication. Your SLP works toward the outcomes that fit your life and circumstances.
Every session led by a registered SLP
Specialized LSVT LOUD training for Parkinson’s disease
Sessions at home, in community, or online across BC
Free phone consultation, no referral needed
Getting Started
What to expect
Free phone consultation
We start with a brief call to understand what is happening with speech and what your goals are. No commitment required, just a straightforward conversation about where things stand and whether therapy is likely to help.
Assessment and planning
Your SLP conducts a thorough assessment of speech motor function, intelligibility, and the everyday situations where communication is most affected. Together you build a plan that fits your goals, your energy levels, and your circumstances.
Therapy at your pace
Sessions happen where works best: at home, in your community, or online anywhere in BC. For intensive programmes like LSVT LOUD, your SLP will guide scheduling. For longer-term therapy, frequency and format are adjusted as goals evolve.
Many extended health benefit plans in BC cover SLP services. See the Arbutus Funding Guide.
A client’s experience
David came to Arbutus Speech Therapy after noticing his voice had become significantly quieter over the previous two years. His wife frequently had to ask him to repeat himself, and he had started stepping back from group conversations that had once felt easy. His Parkinson’s disease had been diagnosed several years earlier, but no one had told him speech therapy was an option. Following an assessment, he and his SLP completed an intensive course of LSVT LOUD. Four weeks later, his voice was measurably louder, and the everyday conversations that had been slipping away were coming back. “I did not realise how much I had been withdrawing,” he says. “People can actually hear me now.”
Adult client, Vancouver (details changed to protect privacy)
Common questions
What is the difference between dysarthria and apraxia?
Dysarthria is caused by weakness, paralysis, or reduced coordination of the muscles used for speech. The brain’s signal to the muscles is disrupted. Apraxia is a motor planning disorder: the muscles may function normally, but the brain has difficulty planning and sequencing the movements speech requires. Both can occur together, and both are assessed and treated by an SLP. An assessment is the most reliable way to determine which is present.
Can speech therapy help after a stroke or brain injury?
Yes. Speech therapy is one of the primary evidence-based treatments for motor speech disorders following stroke or brain injury. How much improvement is possible varies by individual and depends on the extent of neurological involvement, time since the event, and other factors. Early intervention tends to produce the best outcomes, but meaningful progress is possible at later stages as well. An SLP assessment gives you the most accurate picture of what is realistic for your specific situation.
What is LSVT LOUD, and is it right for me?
LSVT LOUD (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment) is an intensive, research-backed speech therapy programme developed specifically for people with Parkinson’s disease. It targets voice loudness and clarity through a structured protocol, typically four sessions per week for four weeks. Research consistently supports its effectiveness for improving vocal intensity and speech intelligibility in people with Parkinson’s. Our team has the specialized training to deliver LSVT LOUD. If you or a family member has Parkinson’s and is experiencing changes to voice or speech, mention this during the consultation and we can discuss whether LSVT is the right fit.
Is it too late to start therapy?
Therapy can be beneficial at many stages after a neurological event or diagnosis. Early intervention tends to produce the strongest outcomes, but many adults see meaningful improvement even years after a stroke or injury. If speech has plateaued after previous therapy, reassessment can identify new goals or updated approaches. A consultation is the best way to discuss what is realistic for your specific situation.
Is motor speech therapy covered by extended health benefits?
Many extended health benefit plans in BC cover SLP services, though coverage amounts vary by plan. Some plans require a physician referral for reimbursement, so it is worth checking your coverage before your first session. See the Arbutus Speech Therapy Funding Guide for a full overview of funding options in BC.
Can motor speech therapy be done online?
For many motor speech disorders, online therapy is a practical and effective option. Arbutus Speech Therapy offers teletherapy across BC. Your SLP will advise whether an initial in-person assessment is recommended for your situation. For some clients, particularly those with progressive conditions or limited mobility, teletherapy is often the most accessible and sustainable format.
What Clients Say
From adults who have worked with us
Working with Arbutus Speech Therapy, my speech improved dramatically. It’s more than just practising talking. Our SLP really goes down the physiological and physical ways and explains why these can really affect your speech. 10/10 recommend for adults.
Adult client, Vancouver
I worked with Arbutus Speech Therapy over the course of several sessions, and the transformation has been incredible. Our SLP not only helped me improve my communication skills but also guided me through a deeper process of building confidence in how I express myself.
Adult client, Vancouver
Our SLP worked with my father who has a form of Parkinson’s that affects speech quickly and aggressively. She was able to effectively assess his needs and provided a comprehensive plan that met his needs and the family. Her upbeat demeanour and encouragement were exactly what we needed.
Family member of an adult client, Vancouver
Take the first step.
A free phone consultation is a low-pressure way to talk through what is happening with speech and whether therapy is likely to help. No referral needed, no commitment, just a conversation.
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