Spasmodic Dysphonia Bulletin Board

Cartoonist & creator of Dilbert has/had SD
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Posted by: Nan ® 10/25/2006, 08:50:35

Hello to everyone. I don't post often, but I have just read a truly amazing thing concerning SD, that a friend sent me. If you have SD, you should read. I am not to savvy at linking things, so if it doesn't work, it is at: dilbertblog.typepad.com/the dilbert blog/2006/10/good news day. If this has already been discussed here, I apologize. I could not find it in a Search. Here is the bottom line; Scott Adams, the creator of the Dilbert cartoon, was diagnosed with SD, and he says that he was able to regain normal speech by reciting poems, which re-wired his brain. As someone who has had SD for 10 years, and received Botox injections for 8, I am as sceptical as anyone about cures for SD. But I assume that we are all interested in anything having to do with SD, especially something that has helped someone. Again, if this has already been discussed, I apologize. Nan Lewis AD SD since 1996 Memphis, TN area Related link: http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2006/10/good_news_day.html

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Re: Cartoonist & creator of Dilbert has/had SD Re: Cartoonist & creator of Dilbert has/had SD -- Nan Top of thread Archive Posted by: Mary Bifaro ® 10/26/2006, 09:49:13 Hi, Nan. There have been several stories printed already about Scott's recovery from SD. He has received a large response on his blog with people congratulating him and wishing him well. This has brought name recognition and awareness to the public about spasmodic dysphonia. I wish Scott the best in his situation. Mary Bifaro Abductor SD since 1987 Charlotte, NC | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original message Top of thread Current page Re: Cartoonist & creator of Dilbert has/had SD Re: Cartoonist & creator of Dilbert has/had SD -- Nan Top of thread Archive Posted by: mdubovick ® 10/28/2006, 11:48:51 Dilbert creator Scott Adams said he was diagnosed with Spasmodic Dysphonia. He also said that during the time he had SD, he had situations where he could speak normally such as to a large crowd using a microphone or alone. Yes, a mike does make it easier to talk with less strain but, can you have normal speech and still have SD? (without Botox) It's just about impossible for us non-medical people to figure out if he truly had SD or possibly Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD). MTD is curable through speech therapy. I know a tv pesonality in Raleigh, NC who had MTD and was cured. Notice I did not say he had SD! My money says this guy PROBABLY did not have SD but had MTD instead. Controversial? Yes! Worth talking about? I guess it's up to you. | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original message Top of thread Current page Re: Cartoonist & creator of Dilbert has/had SD Re: Re: Cartoonist & creator of Dilbert has/had SD -- mdubovick Top of thread Archive Posted by: Renee ® 10/28/2006, 14:42:26 Hi Mel, I would agree with this assessment. I think that it is VERY unlikely that someone would be "cured" of SD, although there are known cases where people have gone into remission. I would say either he had SD and went into remission--or else he had MTD... Renee ADSD/ Austin, TEXAS | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original message Top of thread Current page Re: Cartoonist & creator of Dilbert has/had SD Re: Re: Cartoonist & creator of Dilbert has/had SD -- mdubovick Top of thread Archive Posted by: Ida Neary ® 10/29/2006, 10:25:31 I have had SD for almost 30 years. When I first had signs of it I found it weird that I could count and say ABC's but couldn't carry on a conversation. I also could do theater. When I was on stage I could talk when I walked off stage I couldn't. For the first 11 years the doctors said it was psychological and because of the times when I could talk plainly. I thought it was too. When SD was finally diagnosed and treated with Botox I did a lot of theater. After 10 years of Botox injections I became immune to it. I thought "Oh well, I can still do theater" but I couldn't. I think being a little scared on stage (or in front of an audience) might kick in some Adrenalin that calms the spasms. Anyway, because I had become so comfortable on stage the "scared sh!tless" factor didn't kick in. I had thyroplasty and laser surgery at the Mayo Clinic and my voice is much better but not loud enough to do theater. I hope Scott Adams lots of luck with his recovery. It could lead to more research in re directing neurological paths. Ida | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original message Top of thread Current page Re: Cartoonist & creator of Dilbert has/had SD Re: Cartoonist & creator of Dilbert has/had SD -- Nan Top of thread Archive Posted by: Lynne ® 10/29/2006, 00:59:38 I belong to a listserve which serves around 1,000 SLP's all over the world and posted something yesterday about the information provided in Scott Adams' blog, which raised a number of red flags. Today I got several nice compliments from professionals saying they were skeptical also and thanked me for saying it. Much of the information just doesn't ring true based on what we hear/know in the SD community. Also, as I've mentioned in the past on this forum, I know Scott Adams in person (used to work down the hall from him in Corporate America and have had conversations with him in person). It seemed awfully odd that he claimed to have re-mapped his brain (twice in three years) to cure/address TWO different focal dystonias -- both writers cramp and SD. How much sense does that make? Also the blog stated that nobody ever gets better from SD and that's plain false. The person who brought the blog to my attention on Oct. 24 (immediately after it was written) mentioned, and I concur, that it's nice to see the attention to our disorder but it's making some of us look inadequate in that we can't "re-map" our brains. To make things even weirder, since Scott Adams lives in my area, he showed up on the front page of both the San Francisco Chronicle and the Contra Costa Times today. Two biggest newspapers in our area. The information is still misleading (statistics quoted and information supposedly available in support groups), although he does say he only got his voice back a week ago and he's not sure it will last. The final weirdness (for me) is that the SLP who diagnosed him is the same one who dx'd me (and did my initial videostroboscopy) 11 years ago. Those who were at the Portland Symposium in April, 2005 will remember the name. Dr. K. Izdebski. I'm sure we'll be hearing more; but, in my opinion there are both strong positives and negatives to this news. Obviously, one of the negatives is all the false information in the media/blog reports as well as then having to go back and explain to people why I couldn't "re-map my brain" as well. Not sure I have enough vocal power to get that explanation out. To be continued, I'd imagine. Lynne (AD-SD; RLN surgery; PVFM - breathing; Northern California) L7martinez@aol.com | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original message Top of thread Current page Re: Cartoonist & creator of Dilbert has/had SD Re: Cartoonist & creator of Dilbert has/had SD -- Nan Top of thread Archive Posted by: Celeste ® 10/29/2006, 12:45:38 I think he did what many of us do which is sort of distract the brain.I found I could speak temporarily if I chanted la la la! . Later I was able to speak be "meowing " like a cat. Needless to say neither were convienent nor did they last! | Recommend | Alert Where am I? Original message Top of thread Current page