Posted by: mt.harrington ®
09/17/2008, 07:54:46
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I have found that talking on the phone is so difficult because all I am is a voice. In person I can do some of my talking with my hands and with my facial expressions. None of this applies on the phone. Every vocal "faux pax" (if I've said it correctly...I mean mistake)seems glaringly obvious on the phone. I instantly tense up when the phone rings and use my answering machine to screen calls. Of course there are calls I must make sometimes. Ahhhhhh! I prefer to use a cell phone. No one knows if it's me or the phone that's not working well!
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Posted by: king ®
05/04/2009, 15:18:03
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Have you considered getting a tty device. Its a small
computer you type your message and the relay operator
reads back to the other person. You don't use your voice
at all you just type. You just have to get use to it. Best
of luck.
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Posted by: Vash ®
09/17/2008, 08:13:49
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For me talking in person is more difficult. I believe its a mind thing. Your voice shouldn't be repressed on the phone.
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Posted by: Sumaya ®
09/17/2008, 13:19:05
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Nobody replied yet? I was wondering about that myself. Maybe it's just nervousness because you have to produce oice all the more since people couldn't read your lips. Did you try raising your head when speaking? That seems to help with me...I think it's stretching the vocal cords or something...I don't know. I think we all learn little tricks to manage better.
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Posted by: Vash ®
09/17/2008, 20:23:17
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Hum for about 2 minutes (not to your last breath) before you use the phone. It stretches your vocal cords and totally improves your voice. Also drink water.
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Posted by: Sumaya ®
09/18/2008, 12:59:26
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Thanks for the tip!
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Posted by: king ®
05/02/2009, 15:04:06
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I have sd. I use a tty device for talking on the phone. It is
a small computer you type into and the relay operator reads the
message back to the other people that you are talking to. God
luck
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Posted by: BRife ®
09/19/2008, 11:04:58
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I'm sorry for your frustration. Just realize you're not alone. I think most people on here struggle with that same reality. It appears that is just part of dealing with a neurological disorder. Who knows why certain things trigger it? The phone is terrible, and becomes more frustrating as time goes on. Learning some skills, or "tricks" to deal with it helps some, but it's still there.This affects me at work as well. I'm an air traffic controller, and speaking to the pilots through my headset often triggers the same issue. In the past it was very frustrating when every pilot was telling me, "hope you feel better," or, "sounds like you need to go home on sick leave," or something similar. But I've learned to just look at the bright side. Now it makes me laugh and I realize when that happens it's time for a botox injection. It's not like I can go into a discourse on the frequency on what's wrong with my voice. I wish you the best. Hang in there. Bryan
ADSD - 2004
Carrollton, TX
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Posted by: Catherine1011 ®
09/21/2008, 09:08:55
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I hate the phone, too, but on bad days I find that it really helps to just quickly mention that I have a voice disorder and to please excuse me. People are very understanding then and it doesn't leave them guessing.Otherwise, I usually talk in a higher pitch and hope that it doesn't drop down when I'm least expecting it (which is usually does). I still can't get comfortable with a higher sounding voice. It's just not me.
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Posted by: Phoenix ®
09/22/2008, 16:17:12
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Time helps, as hard as it is to hear this- the people you interact with will began to listen to you again. At work I dreaded the phone and all the sympathy that people gave assuming I had a sore throat. I would tighten up and strain to talk which made my voice even worse. Now I thank others for their concern and go on with business as usual unless I am going to have an on going relationship. If that is so, do take the time to tell them that you not ill- you have SD and to feel free to ask you to repeat again or to ask any questions that they may have. People will usually go just go on to with what they really called for in the first place.
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Posted by: NYer AdSD ®
09/22/2008, 18:46:03
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I didn't realize phone use was more difficult, I just thought I had some complex with the use of the phone that was "making it worst". I mean, I'd be at home, talking to myself, just to see if my voice is cooperating for the day; it'll sound ok, as I deliberately speak out loud, or read out loud, to hear my voice, and it'll sound functional. Yet, as soon as I get to work, pick up the phone, make my first phone call (debt collector), it's like something is triggered in me and I feel this hinderance in my chest / through / mouth area that feels completely different, more effortful than when I was just at home a short time prior. I just thought maybe I had some weird hang up with the phone, or that the phone used different set of muscles; I also thought maybe I was stressing over being aggressive with a debtor and that's why; I didn't realize or understand that phone useage is actually something that people with SD have trouble with. hmmm. weird.
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Posted by: Katjean ®
09/22/2008, 22:08:42
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I had three different doctors to tell me that using the phone made it all worse. One of them told me not to use the phone if I didn't have to.
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Posted by: jetguy108 ®
12/05/2008, 11:38:47
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Hi Bryan,As a Capt for a major cargo airline....I get those same comments from controllers all of the time....I've most recently gotten a few, "is everything all right with you?"..questions from controllers when checking in on freq lately.....I've had AbSD for close to 30 years now and it's become much worse lately...I might have to decide to finally hang up the ole headset myself....you can write direct to me at: Jetguy108@aol.com
Modified by jetguy108 at Fri, Dec 05, 2008, 11:39:04
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Posted by: Hoarse Whisperer ®
09/22/2008, 22:43:28
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I use the Ameriphone XL-30 Amplified Telephone, which amplifies the outgoing voice up to 18 decibels. I find that I talk much better just knowing that it is helping me sound better and I don't strain as much.This is kind of an all-purpose phone for multiple disabilities. Not only does it amplify the outgoing voice, but it can also amplify the incoming sound up to 30 decibels. It minimizes background noise and filters out feedback and distortion. For the ringer, it has an adjustable extra loud 85 decibel ringer along with a large flashing red light (which is optional to use). The buttons are HUGE and in black and white contrasting color. At first, I felt like a little kid playing on the "big phone", but now I love it! I received this phone free through the Specialized Telecommunication Assistance Program (STAP), which provides free equipment to Texas residents (regardless of income) who have a disability that limits their ability to use the telephone. Other states may have similar programs. Lori
ABSD since 2003
North Texas
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Posted by: Phoenix ®
09/24/2008, 19:21:27
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I'd like that telephone- I think I sound all right but new people on the other end like to have me repeat over and over until my throat hurts and I figure why try! I call my old sisters and they can't hear and I can't talk- I'd cry but it is funny when you think about it. When I make a call and a kid answers, before I can tell them who is calling they say something like it's that Phoenix person calling again.. no use being sad as I can't fix it. When the embarrassed adult comes on they are sooo ready to make up for the kid's mistake they say yes to most things I ask for! In the mean time pulling your chin down and hold your head up will help a little bit too.
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