Posted by: kim ®
09/14/2005, 22:57:37
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Carol HiI'm Kim in texas too (houston). My voice gets way worse on the phone too. Especially if there is any background noice, which is usually the case, since I'm the receptionist at a busy doctors office. When the phone rings, it feels like my heart starts beating so hard and fast. I keep thinking (OK, my voice will work this time, over and over again). But it does not work. I don't like the name of the condition "spasmodic dysphonia", but i'm starting to think the name "fits" for me. The reason why - is I work for a busy cardioloigt, as the receptionist and have to answer the phones. It seems like I have a phone dysphobia, and that's what other's I work with think too. My voice does not work that great off the phone, but on the phone my voice is really bad. I thought I was going crazy too, for 20 years. Do you live in Houston? Kim/in houston AB SD
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Posted by: Samietooo ®
09/15/2005, 16:01:12
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Anyone want to add some grrrrrrs here, just chime in. :)Carol from Florida
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Posted by: Dawn Smith ®
09/15/2005, 16:20:17
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GRRRRR...yep, I have serious phone "issues", too. My voice is much, much worse on the phone. It does seem easier to answer calls than to make them, though.
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Posted by: kim ®
09/15/2005, 21:26:56
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Dawn,It easier for me to answer calls, then to make them too. But it isn't that easy, when the phone rings it feels like my heart leaps into my throat, and it starts beating hard. Kim
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Posted by: David Barton ®
09/18/2005, 08:57:28
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I've noticed too that it is easier to answer phone calls than make them. My theory as to 'why' is that there is an additional layer of 'communication' stress when making an outgoing call, particularly to a stranger. That's because you have to identify yourself. They often hear you and don't know immediately who is calling. In contrast, when they phone you, they know (usually) who they want to talk to.I've also experienced that it's much harder for someone with SD to communicate factual information about themselves (eg phone number, name, address, credit card info etc) than it is to say casual things like 'hi' or 'feeling good'. I think the reason is that with factual information you are aiming for better vocal control than with throwaway observations, and someone with SD just doesn't have that. David
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Posted by: kim ®
09/18/2005, 18:02:52
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I noticed that it easier for me to answer the phone, vs, calling out.But I have AB SD and I work for Advanced Cardiac Care. So, if i'm the first to answer, the Advanced comes out ok, but not the "cardiac care". If someone else answers the phone 1st, and says its for me, which always it is; whatever, I pick it up and say "this is Kim, can I help you. It is strange. When the phone rings my heart beats a million miles an hour. I always hope, maybe someone else in the office will answer it. To make a call out is so hard for me too. You are right, when people call they know who they are calling. I experience what you do too. Kim
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Posted by: Barb ®
09/15/2005, 22:06:39
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GRRRRR!!!!! I can not use the phone at all because if they can hear me they can not understand what I am saying. You will not believe how many times I have had to drive someplace ( a few times over 80 miles ) just to set up an appointment for myself or my daughter.
Life was so much easier and cheaper before SD. :) Barb AB/AD Northwest Ohio
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Posted by: kim ®
09/15/2005, 22:32:51
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yep, you are right.Life was so much easier and cheaper before SD. SD is EXPENSIVE, treatment wise that is. Kim
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Posted by: Dawn Smith ®
09/16/2005, 07:33:06
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I do that all of the time and it is soooo tiresome and expensive.
I will opt to drive and do it in person over picking up the phone even though my friends and family think I'm nuts for doing it this way...they just don't understand how stressful the phone is for me. They have all adjusted to my voice, even on the phone and just don't know what we go through when dealing with a new listener. Even if the person on the phone does manage to hear me, they seem to try to get rid of me real fast and what I called about to begin with doesn't usually turn out right. OH BOY.
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Posted by: Lulamadden ®
09/16/2005, 12:29:21
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I can relate to it all. I am Admin. Assistant the doctors I work for are very well known nationally and internationally, so I am on the phone constantly. I am soooo tired of "your sick" or "it won't be long" or "don't want you to strain your voice". The point is, it won't matter!!! I will still be struggling with my voice long after this conversation. I get phone calls from my family and/or people whom I know genuenily (sp?) care about me just to see what I sound like today. I am so tired of being "judged" by the sound of my voice. There is more to us with SD than our SD. Lula
Mixed SD
Modified by Lulamadden at Fri, Sep 16, 2005, 12:30:15
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Posted by: WFZ ®
09/16/2005, 17:50:40
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Hi and GRRRRRR me too!!
This information won't help us to talk better on the pnone but it is interesting and it makes sence. My daughter (occupational therapist) has the theory that body language has a lot to do with talking and on the phone there is NO Body language!! So we feel like we are talking in the dark---at least I do ---and that is very disconserting. Then I get a little nervous and that does NOT help. Sometimes I will say ,"I am having trouble with my voice today, can you understand me?" And they always say, "it's fine"---and that seems to "break the ice", and I talk a little better.
Hope this has enlightened us a little bit.
Thanks for listening,
take care,
Wilma ADSD
Lone Pine,CA
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Posted by: kim ®
09/17/2005, 18:07:04
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Hi Wilma.That is a very interesting theory regarding body language and how it relates to talking. My voice is not that great face to face, but it is much better than when I'm on the phone, it seems to make sense; that body language would have a lot to do with communication. Like you said, it feels like I'm talking "in the dark", thats a great way to express how I feel on the phone. Talking on the phone is the worst, it is so frustrating for me and the other party as well. Your info. is enlightening! Thanks. take care to you and every one. I'm always hoping more answers will be coming our way to explain our condition and the reason it started and how to explain it to other people who do not understand SD. Thanks again Kim
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Posted by: Cindy in TX ®
09/18/2005, 09:41:41
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Hello Carol,
Honestly, I talk to people all day long on the phone. I think that when I speak to someone on the phone for the first time, I think, OK I really want to make a great first impression. With us humans a first impression is everything. Subconsciously we are more concerned about the call, trying harder, thinking harder, and therefore straining harder to sound professional, and intelligent. I have a supervisor role in a call center, and nothing is more stressful that taking a call that has become heated, and your voice sounds "upset". I really have to make myself slow way down, and take control of the call. This sound sooooo much easier that it really is. Yeah, Grrrrrr is right. If nothing Else I am learning more about how to control my impulses. That means that I refuse to let my mind freak out, when my voice already has. I just try to remain calm. With this condition it is a constant struggle between us, and our voice. It's wanting, yet not having, but not giving up either. I guess because we all know that if we ever give up we have defeated ourselves. My voice will never be smarter than my mind, so I must always continue to control my thought, to maintain my communication. My interpreter (my voice) will try to get in the way. But, I refuse to let it. I hope that makes since??
Your in my thoughts, and you will never be alone.
Cindy in TX.
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Posted by: Vici ®
09/18/2005, 09:10:53
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We seem to be fairly unanimous in our dislike for the phone. I got caller i.d. a year or so ago and it has taken tremendous stress off of me. I just don't answer unless it's a few select people that I talk to on the phone. Otherwise, if it's important I guess they'll leave a message. I would rather drive across town to make an appointment than struggle with it on the phone.
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