Posted by: Narelle ®
05/31/2006, 19:38:03
|
HI,
My speech pathologist once told me that talking "through the nose" as if you have a cold can help as it takes the emphasis off the throat muscles and stops them tightening up quite so much. I didn't find it very useful at all at the time, just sounded like I had a cold all the time to go with my old croaky voice!If you want to try new things do see a good speech therapist who knows about SD - many don't -as some things can do more harm than good - ie whispering. Cheers Narelle, Adelaide Australia, AD/SD 20 years
Successful Thyroplasty Type II Surgery in 2000.
Modified by Narelle at Wed, May 31, 2006, 20:36:24
|
Posted by: Barbara S. White ®
05/31/2006, 19:51:29
|
Actually what the speach therapist say is to speak from the diaphram (the stomach area) In through the nose and out through the mouth. It's easy enough to do if that is all you are doing but very hard to carry into conversation except for singers which are taught this in the music training. I've never heard of talking throug the head area. The throat area is where most people talk and it is hard on the vocal cords.
Check with a speech therapist.
Blessing, Barbara god4me@comcast.net
|
Posted by: keith ®
05/31/2006, 20:25:50
|
Hello:
I had speech therapy a few years ago and learned alot about this very topic. The key is to take the energy and focus away from the larynx, since the tendency is to press and tense up in the throat. This feeling of pushing from the larynx only exacerbates the symptoms of the spasms and makes speech even more difficult.
As to speaking "from the head" - I believe you are referring to placing the voice in what trained vocalists and speakers refer to as the 'mask' area of the face. This is the part of the face that involves the lips, mouth, nose, and sinus areas. Placing the voice in the mask results in greater tone quality, power, focus, and projection. Contrarily, placing the voice in the throat results in a very tight and constricted sound with limited volume and carrying power. Also, speaking from the throat tends to alter one's natural pitch and can result in laryngeal elevation (where the larynx feels like it is pushing up), thus inducing even more tension.
Also critical is to keep the pharyngeal space very relaxed and open. There are various exercises that are part of good speech therapy to improve all the areas that I am referring to. One critical element is to use good breathing habits when speaking- involving the use of diaphragmatic support while talking. Good singers, speakers, and instrumentalists do this all the time. When you breathe in, the stomach goes out, and vice-versa. The diaphragm regulates the airflow. It is best to never speak using residual air. In my teaching I used to speak until I was completely out of air. This only increased the out-of-breath feeling already present with AB/SD.
Generally, I would advise you speak with the back of the head up and chin down- rather than the reverse, wherein the front of the neck is long and stretched - this position will always result in pushing from the throat and greater laryngeal tension. Breathe deeply, speak slowly (or at least slower than you are accustomed to), replenish the breath between spoken phrases, stay relaxed, don't push from the throat, think about the words flowing up and over the tongue, form the words with the lips and mouth so that the speech sounds are molded and shaped in the front of the mouth, rather than in the back. All this well help to take the focus away from the throat. Do stretching exercises to relax the body. Keep the head and neck relaxed and free of tension. Any tension in ANY part of the body will eventually manifest itself at the level of the larynx, especially for us with SD.
Hope this helps. Best,
Keith
AB/SD
Pennsylvania
|
Posted by: Speed Racer ®
06/01/2006, 19:07:04
|
Keith,You rock. Thanks, my botox is wearing off already I think and by practicing your tips a bit, I have found new zones I can work with for sure! Ok, I hope! My voice get worn out by the end of the day, but by making some concious adjustments just this evening, I have found several new zones of a good voice. Woo Hoo! Speed Racer
|
Posted by: Susan L. ®
06/03/2006, 10:45:15
|
Keith,
Thanks so much for your reply, that's exactly the information I was searching for. I will practice it, it definitely will help. You're great.
|
Posted by: nhendricks ®
06/08/2006, 22:09:45
|
The method you speak of (talking from the mask area)is what Dr. Morton Cooper of Los Angeles, CA uses. He helps you to find that area and gives you ways to learn how to be successful at it. It ain't easy!
One has to be committed to following through and really set your mind to it.
I made the trip, learned to ropes but am not able to do what it takes. I went back to Botox as it's easier and works for me.
|
|
|
