Doris St. Clair AD/SD VA

Keep in mind that *stuttering* and SD are two totally different things, even though they are both brain-related and they both affect our ability to speak. This was discussed at the Dystonia Symposium in Victoria, 1999.

Stuttering patients are predominently male (80% or more?). SD patients are more frequently female, than male. Stuttering is WAY more common than SD is.

The "practical manifestation" of each disorder is very different; but, looking for a connection between the two is pretty exciting.

All of this information is incredible and so helpful, to all of us looking for a solution and coping-mechanisms, in being able to vocalize...and an eventual cure. It would be so great if we could see it in our lifetime.

I know what you mean by frequencies of sound too. My older relatives can't hear my voice either and I have had some trouble with certain cell phones. We have an older cell phone that I have a real problem with but the new one I feel much more comfortable using.

Have you had any luck with Botox? I have been having injections since 2000 and have been fortunate to get good results that last 4 months. My voice has gotten louder the last year.

A semi-technical description of *White Noise* (without descriptions of frequency or decibels), based on my experience of setting up a huge corporate facility back in the 80's, is *gentle, even background noise.*

"White Noise" is designed to mask, muffle and "smoothe out" harsh intrusive sounds in large public spaces (people's conversations, traffic, etc). It's piped into office buildings so that you can sit in a cubicle and not hear, or be distracted by, the phone conversation of the person in the cube next to you. It's not loud or intrusive, by definition. You're not supposed to notice it or hear it. Always "background" and "soft." It's a "low-key" alternative to complete silence. Intended to be relaxing.

Katrina....could you ask your speech pathologist for more technical details on what type of *noise* is being piped into your headphones? It's not "white noise" (by definition) but I'm curious as to the frequency, decibels and description.