Spasmodic Dysphonia Bulletin Board

Biofeedback?
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Posted by: fldayvid ®
12/11/2006, 17:39:32
Has anyone tried Biofeedback? I have had SD for 3 years now and have little success with Botox. Most days I can't speak at all. I've been through all the regular "stuff" with this (i.e. thousand's of dollars and a long list of Dr.'s, Therpist's, Psychiatrists, etc.). Someone asked me if I had tried Bio which I haven't and although it implies that my troubles are in my head, I'm curious.
David



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Re: Biofeedback?
Re: Biofeedback? -- fldayvid Top of thread Archive
Posted by: Bill Vanderlinde ®
12/12/2006, 12:01:21
David,
I did some biofeedback as part of speech therapy. We were trying to keep the extrinsic muscles around mylarynx relaxed. I had a tendancy to tighten up my entire neck as compensation for the SD. My speech path put some surface electrodes on the outside of my neck and connected them to a sensor that had a audible tone, i.e. I could hear the tone change as my neck muscles became more or less tense. The biofeedback was somewhat helpful in allowing me to get a feel for how to keep the extrinsic muscles relaxed. I don't believe there was any effect at all on the vocal cord muscles themselves (the PCAs in my case.) Since the vocal cord muscles are inside the laryn, I don't think that you could use a surface electrode anyway to get biofeedback from them, it would probably require some sort of surgery.
Bill V.
AB/SD



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Re: Biofeedback?
Re: Biofeedback? -- fldayvid Top of thread Archive
Posted by: JeannieO ®
12/12/2006, 15:22:46
David,
Don't think biofeedback implies your prolem is in your head. Just the opposite! It's a way of becoming aware of what some part of your body is doing and maybe helping you to change or control it. I don't know if it can help with SD, but it's worth a try. Best of luck
Jeannie



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Re: Biofeedback?
Re: Biofeedback? -- fldayvid Top of thread Archive
Posted by: stacy86 ®
12/13/2006, 14:29:28
David, I have tried biofeedback and have had good results. Don't know if it is coinsidence or what but since starting bio I have not had a Botox shot in over a year. I still have problems with my voice but learning to relax the muscles in the neck seems to help. My neurologist has been pleased with the results so far.

Stacy AD/SD and essential tremor since 2000
Colorado




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Re: Biofeedback?
Re: Re: Biofeedback? -- stacy86 Top of thread Archive
Posted by: BRife ®
06/23/2007, 21:45:28
Stacy,

Can you give us an update on how the biofeedback has helped you?

Bryan
Dallas, TX
ADSD 2004




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